Stable weather and conditions on Brown

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation-Mt Brown, GNP
Observation date: 
Friday, January 11, 2019 - 17:15

Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Quick Observation

Found generally good stability today on Mt Brown.

 

  • Valley fog and thin high clouds with plenty of sunshine. Snow surfaces remained frozen all day; no wet concerns
  • Excellent visibility: No recent slab activity, a few small wet loose ran off of Stanton’s and Brown’s south faces yesterday.
  • No signs of instability. We skied on terrain up to 40 degrees at mid and upper elevations.
  • The melt-freeze/ rain crust reached up to 6800’ and became thinner and softer at upper elevations. There is .5”-2” of fresh snow on this crust that was already showing signs of near surface faceting at mid elevations. 
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Videos: 

January 11, 2019. Future weak layers on Mt Brown

Travel Details
Region: 
Glacier National Park - McDonald Lake Area
Route Description: 

Mt Brown to 8000’

Activity: 
Skiing
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details: 
Hide Terrain
Elevation of observation: 
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Above 6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation: 
S
SW
W
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Facets or Faceted Crust
On the surface
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
1.00in.
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
Thin clouds. Air temp at 8000’ was -4 C this afternoon.
Blowing Snow: 
None
Wind Speed: 
Calm (No air motion)
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Snow line: 
4000’
Sky Cover: 
Partly Cloudy (SCT)
Highest Precipitation Rate: 
No Precipitation (NO)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Friday, January 11, 2019 - 17:15
Avalanche Type: 
Wet Loose
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Within storm snow
Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Starting Elevation: 
near-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D1 Relatively harmless to people.
Relative Size: 
R1 Very Small
Crown Height: 
Less than 1 ft
Avalanche Location: