Deep!

Location Name: 
Flathead Range
Observation date: 
Friday, April 3, 2020 - 20:15

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

Tabs

Quick Observation

We chose a low-angle ridge to avoid the stress of the Persistent Slab problem.

  • Settled snow depths above last weekends rain crust: 9" at 4500', 14" at 4500', 17" at 5000' and 22"+ above 6000'. Most of this snow is low-density.
  • Our pit on a NE aspect at 6900' revealed a Persistent Slab snowpack structure that was obvious to the naked eye. Our party felt 2 collapses in the snowpack above 5500' associated with this problem. More info under the snowpack tab.
  • Light to moderate SW winds transported snow above 6000' and formed fresh soft cornices that broke under the weight of a skier. We traveled on wind-affected snow but no slabs found due to avoiding wind loaded terrain.
  • Near freezing temperatures on the valley floor resulted in warm sticky snow in the late afternoon with snow above 4500' remaining light and fluffy.
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
Above 6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation: 
N
NE
E
Red Flags: 
More than a foot of new snow or heavy snowfall rates (>1"/hr)
Blowing snow
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Not observed
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
6.00in.
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
Persistent slab structure consisted of 2" of weak faceted snow beneath 20" of snow at 6900'. We had a failure with a clean shear in a compression test with moderate force CT 15. No propagation with our one ECT.
Blowing Snow: 
Light
Wind Speed: 
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Snow line: 
valley floor
Sky Cover: 
Partly Cloudy (SCT)
Highest Precipitation Rate: 
Very Light Snowfall (S-1)