Avalanches around Essex

Location Name: 
BNSF Avalanche Safety - Flathead Range and JFS Canyon
Observation date: 
Saturday, February 1, 2020 - 15:00
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Public

Tabs

Quick Observation

New avalanche activity today:

  • South face of Running Rabbit Mtn in Path 1163 above the Railway. Observed at 0800 from Hwy 2. Most likely a wind slab where the crown had filled back in with the blowing and drifting snow still present above 6500 feet. Ran about 2/3rd paths terminating well above the rail. SS-D2 size debris.
  • North face of Mt Furlong in a path called Broken Bridge. All I could make out was a fresh debris pile with the limited visibility. Looked about D2 size. Maybe a cornice failure?
  • SS-R4-D2, also suspect a wind slab, on a NNE aspect in a small un-named basin off the North ridge of Snowshed Mtn. Thin crown ~6-8 inches or so.
  •  Large, deep persistent slab failed on the NE face of Cameahwait above the head of Essex Ck sometime this morning. Crown is visible from Essex and did not see it early this morning but noticed it today around 1300. Looks like it failed near the ground on the Nov facets. HS-R4-D3.5-O (photos)
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Saturday, February 1, 2020 - 10:00
Number of avalanches: 
1
Avalanche Type: 
Hard Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Old snow
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

Could not view the full runout so vertical run is estimated.

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
Northeast
Starting Elevation: 
7600
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D3.5
Relative Size: 
R4 Large
Crown Height: 
5 ft
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
2500ft.
Avalanche Width (Average width): 
1200ft.
Avalanche Location: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Saturday, February 1, 2020 - 01:15
Number of avalanches: 
1
Avalanche Type: 
Soft Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
New/old snow interface
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

Only debris visible so crown estimates.

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
South
Starting Elevation: 
above-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.
Relative Size: 
unknown
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
2000ft.
Avalanche Location: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Saturday, February 1, 2020 - 01:30
Number of avalanches: 
1
Avalanche Type: 
Soft Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
New/old snow interface
Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
North
Starting Elevation: 
7000
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.
Relative Size: 
R4 Large
Crown Height: 
Less than 1 ft
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
800ft.
Avalanche Width (Average width): 
150ft.
Avalanche Location: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Saturday, February 1, 2020 - 01:30
Number of avalanches: 
1
Avalanche Type: 
Unknown
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

Could only see the debris from afar so not many details known on this avalanche

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Starting Elevation: 
above-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.
Avalanche Location: