Improving stability in the Jewel

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Jewel Basin, Swan Range
Observation date: 
Monday, April 9, 2018 - 19:30
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Quick Observation

We found generally stable snowpack today in Jewel Basin

  • 1-2" of new snow or graupel above 5,500' this morning. No precip through the day.
  • We traveled on various aspects and steep slopes with no signs of instability except for a few rollerballs at mid elevations
  • This weekend's storm snow is consolidating quickly with last week's lower density snow.  Ski pen is only a few inches and the snowpack no longer feels noticeably "upside-down".
  • Stability tests produced non-propagating or Q2 fractures on mid storm layers about a foot deep.  The 3/22 rain crust is 2 to 3 feet deep and unreactive in ECTs and DTs.  
  • We had good views of a lot of terrain and spotted 3 natural soft slabs that ran over the weekend, D1 to D2 in size, all above 6,000 ft.  
  • Ridgetop winds were moderate but not transporting any snow.  
  • The freezing level was around 5,000' this morning and rose to 6,000' by the end of the day.  The top few inches of the snow surface became moist at these elevations. 
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Videos: 

4/9/18 Improving stability in the Swan Range

Travel Details
Region: 
Swan Range - West Side (Flathead Valley access)
Route Description: 

Noisy Basin to Black Lake to Cliff Lake, as high as 7200'

Activity: 
Skiing
Snowboarding
Snowmobiling
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Saturday, April 7, 2018 - 20:30
Avalanche Type: 
Soft Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Within storm snow
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

1x D1 wind slab just below Swan Crest Ridgeline

1x D2 storm slab near Radio Tower on Mt Aeneas

1xD1.5 dry debris pile near Cliff Lake.  

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
Northeast
Starting Elevation: 
above-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.
Relative Size: 
R2 Small
Crown Height: 
1 ft
Avalanche Location: