Avalanche

Flathead Range

FACFlathead Range & Glacier NP
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Quick report

Collapsing
isolated

Today we partnered up with the BNSF Avalanche Safety program to look for recent avalanche activity and assess the snowpack structure on a path above the rail.

- We experience 4 audible collapses. These occurred at mid-elevations on an east-facing ridgeline. 

- We had propagating results in an extended column test on an east aspect at roughly 5400 feet. The slab above this weak layer is roughly 2 feet thick. 

- Surface snow is faceting.

- We observed numerous crowns at mid and upper elevations (no surprise), some of which are already documented. 

We primarily stuck to ridgelines and spaced out on the few very short steeper pitches.

4 audible collapses on an east-running ridgeline between 5100-5400 feet in elevation.

Weather

Cloud Cover
broken
Wind Loading
previous
Snow Avail For Transport
small smounts

Overcast skies in the morning. Broken skies in the afternoon.

Snowpack

Snowpit on an East aspect at 5400 feet. HS 150. ECTP22 and ECTN27. Failed on facets above the mid-January crust. 

Avalanche

Size
D2.5 R3
Type
HS
Count
2
Aspect
E
Trigger
N
Elevation
7000 ft

Rough estimate of the number of avalanches observed not already accounted for. Counted roughly 12 D2 and D3 size avalanches.