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Facet/crust combo
Location Name:
BNSF Avalanche Safety - Running Rabbit Mtn GNP
Observation date:
Saturday, December 19, 2020 - 19:00
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
No
Observation made by:
Public
Location
Tabs
Quick Observation
Canyon road observations made first thing in the morning and then toured up the Shed 11/10.7 ridge to the Shed 11 weather station at 6400’ and then a bit further up the ridge to 6900’.
Descended the same route.
Objectives were to look for any recent avalanche activity, assess the extent of recent wind-loading, assess the general snowpack structure, and check on the weather station.
No avalanche activity observed.
Below 5000’ elevation the snowpack consists of 4-6” of a snow/graupel mix resting on top of a crust, or just directly on the ground where all the Nov/Oct snow had melted off.
Above 5000’ found a poor snowpack structure with a 6-15” thick slab from this week’s new snow resting atop a thin layer of weak faceted snow just above the Dec 9th crust. Found this structure in multiple hand pits and noted some snappy easy hand shears.
Snow profile conducted just below the Shed 11 weather station at 6400’ on a south aspect. Same poor structure as noted above and ECTP 23 and 18 about 10” down from the surface on the facet/Dec 9th crust combo (pit profile photos).
Dug another hasty pit at 6900’ also on a south aspect. Snow depth=50” with the facet/crust combo buried about 14” down from the surface. ECTNs and CTH 23 SC on that layer in this location.
Moderate westerly winds with occasional strong gusts were actively loading easterly aspects all day.
Observed some shooting cracks, 2-10’ long in the freshest wind slabs (2-6” thick) in a few locations above 5000’.
One small audible collapse on the ridge below the weather station around 6200’. Suspect the facet/crust layers noted above.
Overcast skies with occasional breaks that allowed for some brief sunshine.
Light snow/graupel coming down as on again/off again showers with 1-2” accumulation over the day.
Daytime air temperatures were in the mid-30s °F on the Canyon Floor and the mid-20s °F at elevations above 6000’.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Travel Details
Region:
Flathead Range/Glacier National Park - John F. Stevens Canyon
Activity:
Skiing
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details:
Terrain
Elevation of observation:
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Above 6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation:
SE
S
SW
W
Red Flags:
Shooting cracks
Collapsing / whumpfing noises
Blowing snow
Persistent Weak Layers:
Facets or Faceted Crust
New Snow in the past 24 hours:
4.00in.
Blowing Snow:
Moderate
Wind Speed:
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Wind Direction:
West
Air temperature:
Below Freezing
Sky Cover:
Overcast (OVC)
Highest Precipitation Rate:
Light Snowfall (S1)
