Both Sides of the Aisle

Toured up to Hellroaring Peak to assess the snowpack in the Southern Whitefish Range, and to enjoy skinning up that mountain one more season before it gets covered in bamboo and moguls.

• Warm period Oct 29th- Nov 6th put a hurting on the snow coverage around the region, but the snow that persisted at high elevations seems to have "congealed" during that time.
• Found 17cm of old snow (early october) on south facing and 43cm of old snow on north facing. On both aspects, the base of the snowpack was strong, composed of meltforms, basal ice, and rounding facets.
• Would be curious to travel to higher elevations in the region (7000'-9000') and see where, or if, this basal ice transitions to basal facets.

Some warm weather ahead for us this week, so the Flathead might be in for another "fill in the blank holiday- crust"...