Forecaster Observation - Canyon Creek, Whitefish Range

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Canyon Creek, Whitefish Range
Region: 
Whitefish Range - Southern (south of Coal Creek)
Date and time of avalanche (best estimate if unknown): 
Fri, 01/13/2017 - 15:00
Location Map: 

Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Observation made by: Forecaster
Avalanche Observations
Avalanche Type: 
Dry
Slope: 
37degrees
Trigger type: 
Skier
Crown Height: 
Less than 1 ft
Aspect: 
Southwest
Weak Layer: 
Old snow
Avalanche Width: 
20ft.
Terrain: 
Below Treeline
Elevation: 
5 900ft.
Bed Surface: 
Old Snow
Avalanche Length: 
30ft.
More detailed information about the avalanche: 

This very small avalanche (not large enough to bury a person, but potentially large enough to knock a skier off his/her feet) occurred between 11:30 am and 3:00 pm on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. The slab appeared to be skier/snowboarder triggered and covered the existing uptrack/skin track in a very small amount of debris. While this avalanche is small it is representative of the current conditions across the advisory area.

1. Wind slabs exist and buried a thin layer of facets (weak snow) 6-8 inches deep and likely deeper in the Flathead Range and Glacier Park that received more snow earlier this week.

2. The snowpack is generally weak in many locations due to cold conditions over the month of December into January. 

This small avalanche released on a thin layer of near surface facets 6-8 inches from the snow surface.  It was about 15-20 feet wide and occurred on a southwest facing slope at approximately 5900 feet.

Avalanche Photos: 
Avalanche observation video: 

January 13, 2017 - Small avalanche and weak snow

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm (No air motion)
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Mostly sunny turned to mostly cloudy with a few snow flurries later in the day.

Activity: 
Skiing