Debris in Skiumah

Location Name: 
Flathead Range
Observation date: 
Tuesday, April 7, 2020 - 21:00
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Public

Location

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Quick Observation

We traveled to the Middle Fork to see how the warm temperatures and sunshine were treating our beloved snowpack.

  • Balmy overnight and daytime temperatures fueled numerous natural and skier triggered rollerballs and small wet loose slides on sunny aspects between 4500' - 5700'. We found 6" of moist/wet snow on top of a crust but noted little to no wet avalanche activity above 5700'.
  • It was a slightly different story on shaded aspects as up to 2' of recent snow moistened and resulted in extensive rollerballs and wet loose slides up to 7000'. We avoided this thick and dangerous mank in favor of the more manageable thinner mank of the southerlies.
  • One D2.5 wet loose slide observed on a NE aspect of Mt. Penrose from yesterday.
  • We witnessed one D1.5/2 wet loose slide that slid around noon on a north aspect of Penrose at 7000'. 
  • Believe it or not, moderate wind transport occurred throughout the day due to blustery winds at mid and upper elevations. Easterly mid-elevation aspects had a cool snow surface with a 2-3" wind slab.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Flathead Range - Middle Fork Corridor
Activity: 
Skiing
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details: 
Hide Terrain
Elevation of observation: 
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation: 
E
SE
S
Red Flags: 
Avalanches from the past 2 days
Rapid or prolonged warming
Rollerballs / pinwheels
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Not observed
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
0.00in.
Blowing Snow: 
Moderate
Wind Speed: 
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Wind Direction: 
West
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Snow line: 
6000'
Sky Cover: 
Partly Cloudy (SCT)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Monday, April 6, 2020 - 12:15
Number of avalanches: 
1
Avalanche Type: 
Wet Loose
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Within storm snow
More information or comments about the avalanche: 
Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Start Zone Slope Angle: 
40
Aspect: 
Northeast
Starting Elevation: 
above-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D2.5
Relative Size: 
R2 Small
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
2000ft.
Avalanche Width (Average width): 
100ft.
Avalanche Location: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Tuesday, April 7, 2020 - 12:30
Number of avalanches: 
2
Avalanche Type: 
Wet Loose
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Within storm snow
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

There were 2 slides roughly parallel to each other in the upper reaches of the basin. The larger of the two may be closer to a D2. Viewed from a distance.

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Start Zone Slope Angle: 
40
Aspect: 
North
Starting Elevation: 
7000'
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D1.5
Relative Size: 
R2 Small
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
500ft.
Avalanche Width (Average width): 
50ft.
Avalanche Location: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - 00:45
Number of avalanches: 
4
Avalanche Type: 
Soft Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Unknown
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

This ran during the storm cycle last week as the debris is covered by snow. No crown was visible but the debris suggests a slab avalanche. We observed several smaller debris piles on this same aspect covered by storm snow.

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Start Zone Slope Angle: 
35
Aspect: 
Northwest
Starting Elevation: 
near-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.
Relative Size: 
R2 Small
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
800ft.
Avalanche Width (Average width): 
50ft.
Avalanche Location: