Loose Dry Slides in Rescue

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Rescue Creek, Flathead Range
Observation date: 
Friday, February 8, 2019 - 15:15
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Quick Observation

We traveled to the Flathead Range to assess the snow surface before the Arctic intrusion.

  • Overnight snow totals decreased substantially east of West Glacier.
  • 8-12" of recent snow rests on the 2/2/19 crust between 4500' and 6500'. Weak faceted snow was found above and below this crust. Cracking in the top 6" from the weight of my skis was common.
  • In areas where the recent snow had slab characteristics, hand tests revealed easy shears below the crust. In areas with incohesive snow, this snow was not bonding well to the top of the crust.
  • 4 natural loose dry slides D1.5-2 were observed on southerly aspects. All had run more than 500' vertical feet with one debris pile 175' in width.
  • Sluffing in the recent snow was common on steep slopes during my descent.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Flathead Range - Middle Fork Corridor
Activity: 
Skiing
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details: 
Hide Terrain
Elevation of observation: 
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation: 
N
NE
E
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Facets or Faceted Crust
Buried
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
2.00in.
Total Snow Depth: 
82"
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
I did not make it into the upper elevations but I could hear the wind-a-ripping. An overcast foggy day with poor visibility.
Blowing Snow: 
Light
Wind Speed: 
Light (Twigs in motion)
Wind Direction: 
East
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Snow line: 
0"
Sky Cover: 
Overcast (OVC)
Highest Precipitation Rate: 
Very Light Snowfall (S-1)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Friday, February 8, 2019 - 04:15
Avalanche Type: 
Loose Dry/ Sluff
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Within storm snow
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

Visibility was poor and lighting was flat so I could not determine the exact elevation that these slides initiated. 

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Start Zone Slope Angle: 
40
Aspect: 
South
Starting Elevation: 
6000'-65000'
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.
Relative Size: 
R2 Small
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
500ft.