Early season conditions - Mt. Stanton, Glacier National Park

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Mt. Stanton, Glacier National Park
Region: 
Outside of the Advisory Area
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 11/30/2017 - 13:21
Location Map: 

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

Hiked to Mt. Stanton in Glacier Park to observe early season snow conditions and recent upper elevation wind slab formation.

  • Below 5000' there was only 1-2" of snow on the hillside below Howe Ridge.
  • The snowpack between 5000' and 7600' contained the Thanksgiving rain crust only in areas that had a relatively deep snowpack prior to the holiday rain event. Locations that possessed a thin snowpack prior to the rain event completely melted away and therefore are lacking the crust. Many of these "crustless" areas are on the windward west ridge and southwest face of Mt. Stanton.
  • Where present, the rain crust varied in thickness from 2" at 5000' up to 10" at 7400'.
  • Previous and current northwest winds had and continued to scour the large starting zone on the northwest face while loading the west ridge and southwest face. Fresh wind slabs were up to 16" in depth in favored areas. Cracking underfoot was observed but no shooting cracks were noted.
Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light (Twigs in motion)
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Northwest
Activity: 
Hiking