Forecaster Observation - Skookoleel Ridge, Southern Whitefish Range

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Skookoleel Ridge, Southern Whitefish Range
Region: 
Whitefish Range - Southern (south of Coal Creek)
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 02/17/2016 - 14:00
Location Map: 

Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

We took a quick tour up Skookoleel Ridge to assess recent wind loading, moisture content of the snowpack, buried surface hoar and the concerns we have with our most recent rain crust formed on 2/14 (The Valentine's Day crust...love it or leave it!). We observed numerous rollerballs/pinwheels on all aspects which occurred prior to today along with localized cracking on a steep, previously wind loaded slope near the ridge. Cornices were also very large along the ridge.

We dug our first pit in the south facing "Skook Chutes" at 6144 feet.​

  • HS=120
  • Snow was moist throughout
  • 4 rain crusts were observed at this location with the 2/14 crust located 7 cm below the surface @113
  • The bottom of the pack consisted of 30 cm of weak (4F) snow
  • We had fracturing without propagation in our stability tests: ECTN 14 @101 (5 cm below the 2/14 crust) & ECTN 28 @63 (density change)

​We also dug a north facing pit on Skookoleel Ridge at 6770 feet on a wind loaded aspect.  

  • HS = 261
  • The 2/14 crust was 2 cm thick and 39 cm below the surface @222
  • We found that the recent storm snow and wind loading had bonded well to the 2/14 crust
  • We had fracturing without propagation in our stability tests: ECTN 12 @245 (density change), ECTN 18 @235 (graupel layer), ECTN 29 @224 
  • CT14 Q2 @ 245 cm from the ground
  • CT18 Q2 @ 235 cm from the ground
  • CT28 Q3 @ 224 cm from the ground
  • CT30 Q3 @ 216 cm from the ground

 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light (Twigs in motion)
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
South
Accumulation rate: 
None
Activity: 
Skiing