Shed 7

Location Name: 
Shed 7
Observation date: 
Thursday, February 17, 2022 - 13:00
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
No
Observation made by: Professional Observer

Tabs

Quick Observation

Today we skinned up above the BNSF rail line to assess the distribution and sensitivity of Wednesday's wind slabs and check for the lingering persistent slab problem. Our ECT test results were ECTX on a northerly face, ~36° at an elevation of about 6650 feet. The wind slabs that we found were fairly small in size, yet the freshly wind-drifted snow was harder than expected. We only went to the upper end of the mid elevation band, but would expect to have more wind slabs and wind-stiffened snow at higher elevations.

Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Flathead Range/Glacier National Park - John F. Stevens Canyon
Route Description: 

4400-6650 ft

Activity: 
Skiing
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details: 
Hide Terrain
Elevation of observation: 
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation: 
N
NE
E
SE
S
Red Flags: 
Blowing snow
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Not observed
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
1.00in.
Total Snow Depth: 
270
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
Could hear Moderate to Strong winds higher, but except for moderate gusts they didn't mix down to mid elevations. Snow showers most of the day, mostly S-1 to S1, but one burst of S2. ~1 inch accumulation during the day. Clouds thickening and lowering during the day. Started seeing evidence of past 2 days' winds about 6000 ft. Mostly stiffening the surface except within ~100-150 feet of ridge crests. There, snow surface primarily 4F-1F hard wind slabs sitting on F+ storm snow. 2/15 crust below. Wind slabs 5-15" thick and sheared with easy to mod pulls in hand blocks. Limited cracking - a few feet at most - and no collapses or triggered slabs on test slopes. Slabs harder than expected, and thinner than expected. Maybe not that much snow to move around. In profile at at 6650' NNE slope, no obvious collapsible layers. Progressively harder over 1st meter from surface. Hard to distinguish Jan. melt-freeze crusts and facets. Seem to be sintering and bonding. ECTX.
Blowing Snow: 
Moderate
Wind Speed: 
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Snow line: 
3500'
Sky Cover: 
Obscured by fog, etc (X)
Highest Precipitation Rate: 
Moderate Snowfall (S2)