Red Meadow Road Carnage

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation- Northern Whitefish Range
Observation date: 
Thursday, March 28, 2019 - 19:00

Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Quick Observation

Found stable riding today on steep terrain at mid and upper elevations, with impressive wet slab debris presumably from last week's cycle.

  • The upper snowpack was frozen and supportive to snowbike tracks and foot pen above 5,000'.  The only sign of instability we produced was a very small wind slab at 7,000'.  
  • 3 separate D3 wet slab events have crossed Red Meadow Road. I assume these ran last week based on debris age, but not certain.  A groomer has pushed through 2 of the debris piles but the last slide is still clogging the road with ~10' of debris.  
  • Lower elevations were isothermal and boot pen was knee to thigh deep this afternoon, although the snow surface seemed to retain enough cohesion to prevent loose avalanche concerns.  We didn't bother with riding at this elevation, both with safer and better riding quality up high.  
  • We noted a few glide cracks at mid elevations. 
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Whitefish Range - Northern (north of Coal Creek)
Activity: 
Snow Biking (motorized)
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details: 
Hide Terrain
Elevation of observation: 
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Above 6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation: 
N
NE
E
SW
W
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Not observed
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
1.00in.
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
2" of recent snow up high from last few days.
Blowing Snow: 
None
Wind Speed: 
Calm (No air motion)
Snow line: 
5000
Sky Cover: 
Mostly Cloudy (BRK)
Highest Precipitation Rate: 
No Precipitation (NO)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Thursday, March 21, 2019 - 19:00
Avalanche Type: 
Wet Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Old snow
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

Failure date estimated based on debris age and correlating to the peak of other avalanche activity observed.  

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
Southwest
Starting Elevation: 
near-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D3 - Could destroy a car, a wood house, or snap trees
Relative Size: 
R3 Medium
Crown Height: 
3 ft
Avalanche Location: