Quiet day in Canyon Creek

Traveled to the Whitefish Range to observe conditions following Friday's snow and Saturday's Arctic intrusion.

• Recent strong N-NE winds have affected the snow, to varying degrees, at all elevations and aspects.  Fresh wind slabs 5-10" thick were observed between 5900' - 6800' on leeward, windward and cross-loaded terrain. On upper elevation leeward aspects, we noted unique linear lens-shaped pillows and 3-5' thick drifts. Except for several intentionally triggered small shallow wind slabs, instability was confined to cracking in the surface slab. Numerous hand shear tests throughout the day resulted in moderate failure below this slab in low-density snow.
•  The 2/2/19 crust (aka Groundhog Day) is 1/2-1" thick, surrounded by facets, and buried 20-22" below the surface between 5900' - 6700'.  No propagation on this layer in snowpit stability tests but it consistently failed in shovel and hand shear tests.
• A loose dry avalanche cycle occurred in the Skook Chutes (7 Sisters) during Friday's heavy snowfall. All chutes appeared to have several loose dry slides in them. Debris stopped above the Canyon Creek snowmobile trail.