Forecaster Observation - Hash Mt./Lost Johnny Creek, Swan Range

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Hash Mt./Lost Johnny Creek, Swan Range
Region: 
Swan Range - East Side (Hungry Horse Reservoir access)
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 01/20/2016 - 13:00
Location Map: 

Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Whumphing noises, shooting cracks, or collapsing
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

See avalanche observation: http://www.flatheadavalanche.org/avalanche-observation/wed-01202016-1100...

See snow profile, North aspect at 6675 feet on 28 degree slope:The layer of decomposing facets/surface hoar about 2-3 inches underneath the 1/12/2016 rain crust fractured and propagated with hard force in our Extended Column Test (ECTP 22). The 1/17 freezing "mist" crust (actually 2 crusts separated by 2 inches of new snow) is about 2 feet below the surface on a somewhat wind loaded slope. The 1/12 rain crust is about 4 feet below the surface at the same location.

On another pit on an east aspect at 7100 feet on Hash Mt. in a very windloaded small test slope just off the main Swan Crest we found a layer of graupel about 2 feet from the surface that fractured and propagated across the column with moderate to hard force in our Extended Column Test (ECTP 20). On this slope (very wind loaded) 60 cm of new snow sits atop the 1/17/2016 freezing "mist" crust. So, that's about 2 feet of windloaded snow in 2 days. 

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpit videos (tests, etc): 

January 20, 2016 - Wind Slabs and Storm Slabs, Hash Mt./Lost Johnny, Swan Range

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

See avalanche observation: http://www.flatheadavalanche.org/avalanche-observation/wed-01202016-1100...

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: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Greater than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Snowfall tapered around 1:00 pm with southwest winds at 5-15 mph and gusts to 25 mph.

Activity: 
Snowmobiling
Precip Rate: 
S2; moderate snowfall, 2cm/hour