Early season conditions on Big Mountain

Location Name: 
Big Mountain
Region: 
Whitefish Range - Southern (south of Coal Creek)
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 11/02/2017 - 13:00
Location Map: 

Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Today we found snow depths up to 40cm deep on southerly aspects, and up to 60cm on northerly aspects. Above 6000' there was ~ 20cm of new snow above a couple of buried crusts lingering from last week's storms. Dug a quick pit at ~6400' on a north­facing 25° slope: HS 60cm, CTE1@50cm on new snow density change, CTE6@25cm on buried ice crust.

Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

Conditions Parallel the Early Season Advisory

Description: 

 

 

 

Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

Conditions found mirror the early season travel advisory released a couple days ago. Skied hesitantly due to the plethora of buried obstacles hidden within theshallow snowpack (trees, rocks, bear grass, stumps, etc...).

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Northeast
Accumulation rate: 
Greater than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Moderate winds consistent along ridgetops and around the summit, with lighter winds in the protected run­cuts. Snowing throughout the day reachinga peak (S2+) around 1:30pm, regularly refilling tracks with the assistance of a good bit of wind­transport.

Activity: 
Skiing
Precip Rate: 
S2; moderate snowfall, 2cm/hour
High Temp. (C): 
-10
Low Temp. (C): 
-12