Wet loose in Rescue Creek

Traveled to Rescue Creek  in the Flathead Range for two reasons. First, we wanted to observe wet loose avalanche activity associated with the warm sunny weather of 3/10 and 3/11. Secondly, FAC staff (Flathead National Forest employees) wanted to help Glacier National Park Rangers become familiar with new terrain, on the other side of the tracks, in the event of a future Search and Rescue mission. Interagency response and cooperation is vital for all backcountry SAR incidents.

• 3-4 wet loose slides were observed on the southeast facing terrain below the Rescue/Skiumah ridgeline that occurred 3/10. These were D1 - D1.5 in size and originated on mid and upper elevation terrain. One wet loose slide initiated a thin slab avalanche in a gulley that appeared to be crossloaded.
• At high noon, while taking a break in a safe location, we witnessed 7 wet loose slides occur within a 30 minute window.  These were all located on the Rescue/Skiumah ridge, were D1 in size and originated at upper elevations. These occurred today because cloud cover the morning of 3/10 limited wet loose activity.
• Immediately following this wet loose event thin high clouds developed which limited wet loose activity for the day.
• Minor wet loose activity was noted on westerly aspects in this drainage.
• We found up to 8" of dry snow in protected pockets.