South Dickey Creek

Josh and I toured into the S. Dickey drainage of the Flathead Range and found a variety of fun snow surfaces. We observed natural, wet loose activity occurring at upper elevations during the afternoon hours. 

•Last nights minimal refreeze was ski supportable and made for efficient, crusty travel along the creek. 
•Rapidly warming temperatures with a slight "greenhousing" effect quickly degraded the melt-freeze crust where present. 

•As we climbed into upper elevations on a NW aspect ( to 6900ft), we experienced drier surface snow capped with a thin, breakable surface crust that was degrading from the greenhousing (and thus, some glopping occurring). 
•We skied from 6900' to 5400' on a NW aspect. Skiing was decent and manageable to 6400', and below, skied like gluey/legitimately hot/ACL-tearing schmoo. 

•We observed numerous (40+) recent, wet-loose avalanches (D1-D2) on S & E aspects (Elk Mtn) as the unflitered sun wreaked havoc on week-old snow overlying a strong, supportable crust. We enjoyed the show; both the visuals and the audio.
•On Northerlies ATL, surface snow remained relatively "clean", albeit warming in the above-freezing temps, with minmal rollerballs originating from cliffs and trees. 

•Rapid warming was triggering D1-D2 wet-loose slides on S & E aspects, the largest originating ATL near cliff bands and trees. •N & W aspects had minimal wet loose activity confined to roller balls