Devil this, Devil's that, but not bedeviled by crust

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Bob Marshall Wilderness
Observation date: 
Sunday, January 19, 2020 - 20:00
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
No
Observation made by: Public

Tabs

Quick Observation

Day off explore. 

  • Despite overcast skies, temperatures warmed during the day, with above-freezing temperatures reaching to about 5000 feet. Upper 20s at mid and upper elevations. 
  • The warm temperatures left the snow surface mostly moist to about 5000 feet, and prompted numerous roller balls and small point releases on open, southerly slopes. On a few shady slopes below that elevation, the surface snow remained dry.
  • We did not see any loose wet avalanches beyond fan-shaped point releases, except on road cuts in the Middle Fork. All were D1.
  • Winds turned gusty mid-day, with light blowing snow that did not look to be forming drifts.
  • On open, south- and west-facing slopes above 6000 feet, we found a very thin crust from recent sun. It may exist below that elevation, but we did not travel on those aspects below 6k. We did not find this crust on SE- or E-facing slopes, where we spent most of our time. 
  • Reent winds have left stiff drifts and slabs at the tops of steep north- though east-facing chutes, along with a few cornices. We declined the invites offered by the this terrain. 
  • No rain crust.

We skied short slopes steeper than 35 degrees that had clean runnouts, along with longer, less steep slopes. We avoided being under upper-elevation, leeward slopes.

Travel Details
Region: 
Flathead Range - Bob Marshall Wilderness
Route Description: 

4400-7100 ft

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: 
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
Red Flags: 
Blowing snow
Rollerballs / pinwheels
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
0.00in.
Total Snow Depth: 
150
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
Overcast most of the day, though clouds broke up late afternoon in time to create alpenglow in the peaks. Hand shears took some effort to pull off blocks, which failed 20" or so down, on what looked like a storm interface or density change. Boosh asserted itself below about 5200 ft, though many booshes buried.
Blowing Snow: 
Light
Wind Speed: 
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Wind Direction: 
West
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Snow line: 
5000
Sky Cover: 
Overcast (OVC)