Powder in the Park

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation- Central GNP
Observation date: 
Sunday, January 12, 2020 - 17:15
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Quick Observation

Day off tour in the Park. We found stable snow in wind sheltered mid and low elevations.

  • 6" of right-side-up settled storm snow showed no signs of wind affect. 
  • Good visibility gave views of surrounding basins: No obvious crowns, a handful of natural sluffs up to D1.5
  • We skied steep terrain with no obvious signs of instability apart from a few small sluffs.

 

Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Glacier National Park - McDonald Lake Area
Route Description: 

To 6600'

Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details: 
Hide Terrain
Elevation of observation: 
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation: 
N
NE
SE
S
NW
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Facets or Faceted Crust
Buried
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
2.00in.
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
12/31 interface down 20” at 6500’ No signs of wind or transport here at all elevations today from our vantage, but east winds were whitecapping Lake McDonald at the end of the day
Blowing Snow: 
None
Wind Speed: 
Calm (No air motion)
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Snow line: 
Valley
Sky Cover: 
Mostly Cloudy (BRK)
Highest Precipitation Rate: 
Very Light Snowfall (S-1)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Saturday, January 11, 2020 - 08:30
Number of avalanches: 
8
Avalanche Type: 
Loose Dry/ Sluff
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

Mid and upper elevations below Edwards and Brown. 

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D1.5
Relative Size: 
R1 Very Small
Avalanche Location: