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A thin line between pow and gwaunch
Location Name:
Forecaster Observation - Pt. 6996
Observation date:
Friday, February 1, 2019 - 15:45
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
No
Observation made by:
Forecaster
Location
Tabs
Quick Observation
Traveled to the tropics of the Fielding area to check out surface conditions prior to storm.
Warm, windy weather. Both had pronounced effects on the surface snowpack, including seriously degrading any surface hoar that existed.
Surface snow moist or wet to ~6000 ft. Full-on Cascadian gwaunch below ~5700 ft on afternoon exit. Very sticky. Lots of rollerballs, but nothing entrained into loose wet slide.
Dry snow above about that elevation was wind-dappled but not crusted. Ski penetration ~ 4 inches.
Firm/ hard drifted snow confined to ridges and lee slopes. Mostly thin (1-3") but poorly bonded to underlying snow.
Isolated spots where wind slabs up to 12" at highest elevations.
Crust buried 1/17 apparent in pit at 5700' on NE slope, but did not propagate in tests. No collapses or cracks on test slopes at that elevation.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Travel Details
Region:
Glacier National Park - Southern Lewis Range
Activity:
Skiing
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details:
Terrain
Elevation of observation:
5000-6500 ft
Above 6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation:
N
NE
E
Red Flags:
Blowing snow
Rollerballs / pinwheels
Persistent Weak Layers:
Facets or Faceted Crust
Depth Hoar
Buried
Total Snow Depth:
120 cm
More comments about the snowpack and weather:
Winds strong but not drifting much snow. Recent slabs thin but wide and poorly bonded to snow below. Exception was right near the summit, where we found a 1F slab up to 12" thick. This felt really stiff but was did not propagate in an ECT. Still didn't trust it. Relatively soft layer of facets still present near the ground; CTM 14 SC, NE 5700'.
Blowing Snow:
Light
Wind Speed:
Strong (Whole trees in motion)
Wind Direction:
West
Air temperature:
Above Freezing
Snow line:
6000
Sky Cover:
Overcast (OVC)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details:
Date and Time of Avalanche:
Friday, February 1, 2019 - 18:45
