Hellroaring might be overstating it

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - southern Whitefish Range
Observation date: 
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - 18:45

Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
No
Observation made by: Forecaster

Location

Tabs

Quick Observation

Afternoon tour to check on winds and their effects, if any, on the recent snow surface.

  • Winds were light with a few moderate gusts, but that was enough for some light blowing snow and obvious signs the wind has affected the snow surface - dune-shaped drifts, scalloped and polished surfaces, fresh cornices.
  • These effects were confined to the top ~150 feet of the peak, basically the most exposed terrain. Elsewhere the snow surface remained cohesionless powder. 
  • Freshly-formed cornices were sensitive to a person's weight. The debris did not, however, trigger slabs on the short steep slopes below.
  • One small slab of drifted snow failed below a cornice failed when stepped on, but did not move because of buttressing on the slope below. The weak layer was recent snow (dendrites).
  • In a profile on a west-facing slope at 6250 feet, the holiday crusts were buried ~1.25 m below the surface; the slab above was right side up (harder near the crust than surface). Tests did not produce shears or collapses near the crusts or in the snow above, with one exception - a deep tap test which poduced a sudden planar failure just below the 12/31 crust. The failure layer shows a few rounding facets but no distinct persistent weak layer. 
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Whitefish Range - Southern (south of Coal Creek)
Route Description: 

5-6700 feet

Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details: 
Hide Terrain
Elevation of observation: 
5000-6500 ft
Above 6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation: 
N
SE
S
W
Red Flags: 
Blowing snow
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Facets or Faceted Crust
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
2.00in.
Total Snow Depth: 
225 cm
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
Profile at 6250', west facing slope (260*), 38*. HS ~230; 12/31 down 1.2 m, P- hard w 1F or 1F+ snow on either side. No distinct pwl above or below. 12/24 down 1.3 m, P hard, small rounds either side w a few rouding facets visible in a scope. Have rarely looked that hard for facets and not found them. A shears in slab above, at density changes.
Blowing Snow: 
Light
Wind Speed: 
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Sky Cover: 
Mostly Clear (FEW)