Pre-storm Conditions

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Mt. Brown
Observation date: 
Friday, February 1, 2019 - 17:45
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
No
Observation made by: Forecaster

Location

Tabs

Quick Observation

We went up Mt. Brown to get a handle on surface and upper snowpack conditions prior to the incoming storm.

  • We did not see any signs of instability today other than some kick test results in small, hard wind slabs on upper elevation test slopes.
  • We dug down to test the well-described 1/17 interface in several mid-elevation locations. We didn't get any repeatable propagating results in the upper snowpack.
  • No signs of recent deep slab avalanches on the surrounding peaks.
  • Mixed bag of surface conditions. The snow surface below about 5000' was moist, sticky, spring-like snow on all aspects. On steep, sunny, open slopes above 5000' there is a 1" thick sun crust. The surface in upper elevation, exposed terrain has been wind affected. Everywhere else there is between 4-6" of low density snow on top.
  • The good news is that we did not find any surface hoar or facets at the surface.
  • We dropped down the trail corridor below the recent wind slabs and skied steep terrain up to 45 degrees on concave slopes with only the poor quality snow to deal with.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Videos: 

February 1, 2019 - Pre-storm Conditions on Mt. Brown

Travel Details
Region: 
Glacier National Park - McDonald Lake Area
Route Description: 
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
NW
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Facets or Faceted Crust
Buried
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
0.00in.
Total Snow Depth: 
120cm
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
Increasing clouds from the W throughout the day. Surface up to 4000' was already thawing at 930am. General upper snowpack structure at mid and upper elevations (without sun crust) top-down: 5cm of F+ hard needles, 1/127 interface, 10cm F hard DFs, 1/22 RNcr, 15cm 4F DFs/FCs, 1/17 MFcf/FC combo, 1F below. @ 5760' WSW aspect- ECTN M at the 1/22 interface, ECTN M on top of the 1/17 Cr. @6060 NW aspect- ECTP 29 down 47cm in a thin, 4F FC layer, this result wasn't repeatable in a second test; ECTN H. Occasional light winds from the SSW increased to steadier light winds from the WSW by noon at upper elevations. No blowing snow.
Wind Speed: 
Light (Twigs in motion)
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Air temperature: 
Above Freezing
Snow line: 
5000 ft
Sky Cover: 
Increasing clouds
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Friday, February 1, 2019 - 17:45
More information or comments about the avalanche: