Public Observation - Skiumah Creek, Flathead Range

Location Name: 
Public Observation - Skiumah Creek, Flathead Range
Region: 
Flathead Range - Middle Fork Corridor
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 03/23/2017 - 02:15
Location Map: 


Observation made by: Public
Snowpit Observations
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Went up Skiumah Creek and found a very saturated snowpack up to about 5400'.  There were a lot of wet slides from all aspects with the main face of Penrose running all the way down to Skiumah lake and breaking the ice.  We continued all the way up to the saddle northwest of Penrose because the cloud cover kept temperature's down and did not warm up the wet snowpack lower down.  Once we got above 6,000' the snow became more frozen (supportable crust layer) with pockets of wind blown fresh snow.  We noticed much less avalanche activity in the higher terrain where winter looks to be holding on.  Took a NE facing run off the ridge (7,200') where we were able to ride a few inches of fresh snow on top of the frozen snowpack with no signs of instability.  We were very happy the sun never came out for too long today.

Activity: 
Snowboarding
Precip Rate: 
S -1; very light snowfall, trace to 0.5cm/hour