Rock off Gibralter

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Northern Whitefish Range
Observation date: 
Thursday, March 12, 2020 - 16:30
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Quick Observation

Today we spotted a coulouir and made our goal to ski it if conditions allowed.  We found:

  • No recent avalanche activity
  • 5-8 inches of recent snow
  • Some, but not much, evidence of wind above 6500'
  • The few windslabs we encountered were small and resistant to our stomping, skiing, and other creative testing
  • We experienced minimal cracking in the snow surface and no collapsing
  • We triggered several sluffs on the descent one of which ran to the bottom of the slope
  • Our test pit yeilded no buried surface hoar and a stable result in our Extended Column Test
  • Slopes that saw sun today formed a thin crust

We felt comfortable skiing a steep and consequential couloir one at a time while maintaining communication about the terrain, snow, and our movement though them.

Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Videos: 

March 12, 2020. Carefully Stepping Out.

Travel Details
Region: 
Whitefish Range - Northern (north of Coal Creek)
Route Description: 

Sleds to 5400'.  Skinned N to E to 7000'.  Descended to creek bed.  Quick skin back to sleds and out to the truck.

Activity: 
Skiing
Snowmobiling
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
NW
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
2.00in.
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
Pit @ 5600' NE aspect: No buried surface hoar, ECTN12 down 18 cm on storm interface/graupel
Blowing Snow: 
Previous
Wind Speed: 
Light (Twigs in motion)
Wind Direction: 
West
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Snow line: 
1000
Sky Cover: 
Mostly Clear (FEW)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Thursday, March 12, 2020 - 13:30
Number of avalanches: 
1
Avalanche Type: 
Loose Dry/ Sluff
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Within storm snow
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

Sluffs in couloir, one of which reached the apron.

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
skier
Trigger Modifier: 
Accidentally Triggered
Hide Terrain
Start Zone Slope Angle: 
45
Aspect: 
North
Starting Elevation: 
near-treeline
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D1 Relatively harmless to people.
Avalanche Location: