Public Observation - Peak 6996, southern Glacier Park

Location Name: 
Public Observation - Peak 6996, southern Glacier Park
Region: 
Glacier National Park - Southern Lewis Range
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 03/12/2017 - 14:00
Location Map: 

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

Rain on the drive through the MF corridor turned to snow at the Feilding Coal Creek Trailhead. Several hundred feet above the railroad grade the trees started holding snow and by the time we reached the ridge at 6000' 10 cm of high density snow filled the old skin track. Above this elevation a steady west wind erased the skin track completely, and as we neared the summit temperatures dropped and we were breaking trail in 20cm of medium density snow.  The SE slope adjacent to the skin track was being actively crossloaded. When we skied this slope the windslab which had formed overnight was noticeable but not reactive.

On the ski out we dug a pit on the NE aspect skiers right of the main bowl. Total snowpack depth was 265 cm. Our pit depth was 110 cm which got us below a prominent ice layer which we found at 185 cm. The 20-25cm of new snow on this aspect was less affected by the wind but was still the reactive layer in our compression test.

CT8 Q2 at 245cm.

The snowpack between here and the ice layer at 185cm was well bonded and not reactive in our extended column test.

ECTX

 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

We were surprised to find decent conditions on the summit ridge and on the slopes adjacent to the main bowl. Cold temps, a steady wind and new snow overnight created good skiing conditions to the bottom of the valley. 

Activity: 
Skiing
Precip Rate: 
S1; light snowfall, 1cm/hour
Low Temp. (C): 
-4