Linking Link Lake and Link not Lake Mountain

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Link Mountain
Observation date: 
Thursday, January 3, 2019 - 14:30
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
No
Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Quick Observation

Rode into northern Whitefish Range to assess wind slab and persistent slab avalanche problems, as well as blowin' and snowin' forecast for today.

  • Strong, gusty winds seemed confined to funnels in the terrain - Red Meadows Pass, and the saddle west of Link Lake - and across terrain downwind of those funnels.
  • 5-8 inches new snow by midafternoon
  • Despite some drifting snow on mid-elevation terrain and near ridges, little wind slab formation
  • No red flag signs of instability, though we didn't venture into consequential leeward terrain steeper than 35 degrees
  • A thin layer of surface hoar is buried 8-14" below the surface but is not reactive to a person's weight at this point
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Whitefish Range - Northern (north of Coal Creek)
Route Description: 

Snowmobiled up to Red Meadows Lake from the North Fork side, doubled back, then skinned to Link Lakes and Link Mountain, descended and returned to North Fk road.

Activity: 
Skiing
Snowboarding
Snowmobiling
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
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Surface Hoar
Buried
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
8.00in.
Total Snow Depth: 
60
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
Strong and gusty winds seemed confined to terrain downwind of saddle between Link and Lake Mountains - plenty of trees in motion downwind of there, along with drifting on and near the lake. Light winds at the summit of Lake Mountain. Downsloping? Snowfall intensified from S-1/S1 to S2 early afternoon. Light drifting at mid-elevations below lake, but wind mostly just stiffened surface of new snow. Consistently found a thin layer of surface hoar buried 8-14" below snow surface. On numerous test slopes, got short cracks around skis, and only 1 short (<10') crack that shot straight away from skis. No collapses. ECTN in 2 snowpits (6200'; East and 6450', northeast). Snowpack below this layer 4F-1F, with interfaces between storm or wind events not propagating in ECTs. Could not safely enter steep, leeward terrain on east face of peak, though the snow on this slope didn't look very wind-affected. On ridge above this slope, saw no fresh cornices and got no cracking stomping around like angry children.
Blowing Snow: 
Light
Wind Speed: 
Strong (Whole trees in motion)
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Snow line: 
By late afternoon, freezing line had crept up to trailhead
Sky Cover: 
Obscured by fog, etc (X)
Highest Precipitation Rate: 
Moderate Snowfall (S2)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Thursday, January 3, 2019 - 20:30