Public Observation - Skookoleel Ridge, Whitefish Range

Location Name: 
Public Observation - Skookoleel Ridge, Whitefish Range
Region: 
Whitefish Range - Southern (south of Coal Creek)
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 03/07/2017 - 13:15
Location Map: 

Red Flags: 
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Public
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Because we liked our tour so much yesterday, we did it again today, with a twist--WE DUG IN DIFFERENT PLACES. Skook face was decidely more wind affected--we found increased strength in the 20cm of duff on top, and popped a very small 15x3ft wind lens on a wind swale. Then, we dug on a roll at the top of Dorothy,  which turned out to be a bit of a rock,  judging by the perfect facets that made up the bottom 30cm (total pit depth of 105cm). The "behemoth" ice crust beneath the last couple weeks of storm snow proved a decisive difference: when we isolated all the way through to the facets, it popped to bottom with easy force (CT5 Q3 100cm down), but an ECT that we stopped on the crust (ie, not cutting through it) yeilded no propogation (various slovenly ECTNs). Lower elevation snow on SE aspects was certainly getting baked as the afternoon wore on (below 5400ft).  

 

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light (Twigs in motion)
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Patchy throughout the day. 

Activity: 
Skiing