Quick report
• Very little snow below 5000’ elevation on the Marion trail • Temperature inversions were strong (cold, below freezing temps entrenched in the valley bottoms with above freezing temps at higher elevations) -- "hot pow" conditions noted between 5500-6500' (skin wax recommended) • Moderate winds from the W were transporting nominal amounts of snow along the Flathead crest, and although isolated pockets of windslab were experienced along ridgeline; all were benign and no instability was observed • Overcast, sometimes partially broken skies kept the sun from wreaking havoc today and no wet-loose was observed. Southerly aspects have a thin (2cm) M/F crust to at least 6800' • We skied an E aspect (7200-6000') and experienced no sluffing. Surface snow was dense and felt more like April powder than late December powder with the higher temps. Visibility was excellent and no recent avalanche activity was observed in the leeward, alpine terrain of the Flathead Range.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- overcast