Professional Observation - Shed 7 West - John F. Stevens Canyon, southern Glacier NP

Location Name: 
Professional Observation - Shed 7 West - John F. Stevens Canyon
Region: 
Flathead Range/Glacier National Park - John F. Stevens Canyon
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 12/31/2015 - 12:00
Location Map: 


Observation made by: Professional Observer
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

• Shooting cracks observed on northerly to easterly aspects.• Snow depth at test profile location, which was on an easterly aspect at 6,143 feet (1873 m) was 90 cm. No propagation in 3x ECTs.• However, we did have the entire ECT column collapse (2x) in basal depth hoar with moderate force applied. ECT columns collapsed on an ECT20 and ECT18.• Full data profile conducted at 6590 feet (2009 m) Snowpack height at this location was 117cm, Slope angle was 34 degrees with a southeasterly aspect.• ECT test in full data profile resulted in no propagation. CT test resulted in a CTH Q2 at a depth of 112 cm from the snowpack surface on a mixed form interface. • Basal depth hoar in full data profile appears to be rounding and average size was 1.5mm• Significant temperature gradient in full data profile between 20 cm and 100 cm from the ground surface.

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

BNSF RAILWAY AVALANCHE SAFETY, VOLUNTARY FIELD OBSERVATIONS, (406) 863-0476 Email: richard.steiner@bnsf.com

Toured up the looker’s left ridge of the Shed 7 West path. Dug a test profile at 6143 feet on an easterly aspect and then continued up the Shed 7 West path while traversing the path to a southerly aspect.  Worked our way up the southerly aspect terrain to 6590 feet in elevation.  At this location on a southeasterly aspect we conducted a full data profile.  After completing profile observations we traversed further to the east along the Shed 7 ridge and followed the ridge to the starting zone of Shed 7 East.  At this point, we dropped down to the Shed 7 weather station for a welfare check.  All good.  For descent to the Canyon floor we skied the skier’s left of the Shed 5 path.

Skiing conditions were very good on ascent and good on descent.

No recent avalanche activity observed. However, later in the day insolated (very small) surface wind slabs were forming on easterly and northeasterly aspects.  We could easily trigger very small avalanches or at least get some shooting cracks in these slabs.

BNSF AVALANCHE SAFETY FIELD OBSERVATIONS SUBMITTED TO FLATHEAD AVALANCHE CENTER AND GLACIER NATIONAL PARK ARE BEING PROVIDEDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED GLACIER NATIONAL PARK SPECIAL USE PERMIT.  

THESE OBSERVATIONS REPRESENT SITE SPECIFIC INFORMATION INTENDED FOR THE BNSF AVALANCHE SAFETY PROGRAM AND IN NO WAY ARE TO BE CONSTRUED AS A PUBLIC/ RECREATION AVALANCHE FORECAST.  

Weather Observations
More detailed information about the weather: 

Broken skies, light to moderate westerly winds, and no precipitation throughout the day. Air temperatures were in the teens throughout the day at all elevations. Wind loading occurring on easterly and northeasterly aspects.

Activity: 
Skiing