Where are the gators?

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Jewel Basin
Observation date: 
Thursday, January 24, 2019 - 13:00
Is this an Avalanche Observation: 
Yes
Observation made by: Forecaster

Tabs

Quick Observation

Traveled to ridge above Picnic Lakes to assess conditions at upper elevations, above the moat.

  • 1/17 interface seems to be gaining strength. Buried about 22" below surface. No cracking or collapsing; no propagation in snow profiles on SW or E facing slopes.
  • Freezing rain at start of 1/22 storm left a thin rain crust on all aspects to at least 7000 ft elevation. Buried 8-10 inches below surface. No signs shooting cracks or collapses; inconsistent test results. 
  • Found debris from natural avalanches that either ran at start of 1/22 storm - possibly triggered by freezing rain - or prior to storm. Southwest aspects, upper elevation.
  • Snow in/ below the notch was not wind affected. 
  • Very poor visibility limited travel and observations. 

Limited observations in The Moat.

  • 1/17 SH/crust buried about 22" below snow surface and still very visible. SH appears to be fragmenting and decomposing, with layer gaining strength.
  • No propagation in test on NE-facing slope at 5400 ft (top of moat).
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images: 
Travel Details
Region: 
Swan Range - West Side (Flathead Valley access)
Route Description: 

Snowmobile to Camp Misery; skin through notch to ridge above Picnic lakes; return. 

Activity: 
Skiing
Snowboarding
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: 
E
SW
W
Red Flags: 
More than a foot of new snow or heavy snowfall rates (>1"/hr)
Persistent Weak Layers: 
Surface Hoar
Facets or Faceted Crust
Buried
New Snow in the past 24 hours: 
3.00in.
Total Snow Depth: 
280 cm
More comments about the snowpack and weather: 
Easy results in density changes above 1/22 rain crust, but no propagation or planar fractures. Generally the same above/ below the rain crust, except 1 ECTP 14. appeared to be fragments of stellars/ dendrites or buried SH. 1/17 surface hoar appears to have fragmented and strengthened in one profile on NE-facing slope @5400 ft. About 22 inches below surface here as well. ECTN 30 in test profile. Soft, non reactive drifts in the short section of ridge crest we traveled.
Blowing Snow: 
None
Wind Speed: 
Light (Twigs in motion)
Wind Direction: 
West
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Sky Cover: 
Obscured by fog, etc (X)
Highest Precipitation Rate: 
Very Light Snowfall (S-1)
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details: 
Date and Time of Avalanche: 
Tuesday, January 22, 2019 - 20:00
Avalanche Type: 
Unknown
Failure Plane/Weak Layer: 
Unknown
More information or comments about the avalanche: 

Couldn't see crowns/ release point. Debris covered by 1/22 snow. Could have released over the weekend, or at start of 1/22 storm, possibly released by freezing rain. Debris from one slide only covered by an inch or two of debris.

Hide Trigger
Trigger: 
natural
Hide Terrain
Aspect: 
Southwest
Starting Elevation: 
6600
Hide Size
Destructive Size: 
D1.5
Relative Size: 
R3 Medium
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run): 
300ft.
Avalanche Location: