Quick report
We went to the Swan Range today to look for signs of recent wind-loading and assess persistent weak layers buried in the snowpack.
- Observed no recent avalanches and no signs of collapsing or cracking. We were unable to test any recently formed slabs closer to the crest.
- Roughly 2 to 3 inches of recent snow. Previous tracks were drifted in over in places indicating recent moderate to strong winds.
- We observed no active wind transport throughout the day.
- Snowpack tests showed mixed results. The propagating snowpit test we had was on a south aspect. I assume this is the same interface that led to human-triggered avalanches in the Whitefish Range.
- Cornices are LARGE along the crest. They will require a wide berth once things start to heat up again.
Video and more pictures to come.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- overcast
- Wind Loading
- previous
- Rain Elevation
- 4500
- Recent Snowfall
- 6
- Snow Avail For Transport
- small smounts
Cloud ceiling hovered around 7k earlier in the day and lifted above surround peaks by afternoon.
Snowpack
Snowpit on north aspect at roughly 6750. ECTX. PST130/140 end. We observed no persistent weak layers buried in the upper snowpack. The layer of facets above the 2/3 (early February Crust) is 1 finger hard.
Snowpit on south aspect at roughly 6000 feet. ECTP down 40cm. ECTN down 25cmX2. The layer that produced propagating results was a layer of 1-1.5 rounding facets above a sun crust.