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Splendid Isolation
Location Name:
Flathead Range
Observation date:
Monday, March 23, 2020 - 20:45
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
No
Observation made by:
Public
Tabs
Quick Observation
I took advantage of a quiet Monday in the eastern Middle Fork.
Warm air temperatures resulted in moist surface snow on all aspects below 6000'. 2" of new snow Sunday morning, combined with 2" of moist snow that fell during today's tour, created stickiness on the up and down.
Pockets of rollerball activity on east and west aspects from today and yesterday below 5500'. No Loose Wet slides observed. One very small fresh wind slab avalanche noted at 6700'.
On southerlies, there is a melt-freeze crust beneath the recent snow up to 6800'. No melt-freeze crust noted above 5500' on northerlies.
Shaded aspects remain good skiing with up to 10" of recycled powder.
38 F with light to moderate rain on the drive home between JFS and Belton Canyon.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Travel Details
Region:
Flathead Range/Glacier National Park - John F. Stevens Canyon
Activity:
Skiing
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details:
Terrain
Elevation of observation:
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Above 6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation:
N
NE
E
SE
W
Red Flags:
Rollerballs / pinwheels
Persistent Weak Layers:
Not observed
New Snow in the past 24 hours:
2.00in.
More comments about the snowpack and weather:
The rain/snowline was ~5000'. Big wet fluffy flakes...too bad they stopped.
Wind Speed:
Light (Twigs in motion)
Wind Direction:
Southwest
Air temperature:
Above Freezing
Snow line:
5000'
Sky Cover:
Mostly Cloudy (BRK)
Highest Precipitation Rate:
Moderate Snowfall (S2)
