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Crusts and Cornices
Location Name:
BNSF Avalanche Safety - Snowslip Mtn. GNP
Observation date:
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 - 22:00
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
No
Observation made by:
Public
Location
Tabs
Quick Observation
Toured up the Shed 7 West avalanche path into the upper starting zone and then continued gaining elevation to the ridge that separates Shed 7 West and the Shed 9 starting zone. Traversed upper reaches of the Shed 9 basin to a south facing aspect where we conducted a full profile.
Objectives were to:
Observe surface snowpack condition at all elevations,
Observe Shed 7 West cornice formation and loading distribution.
Observe Shed 9 loading distribution and cornice formation,
Examine snowpack structure in the upper starting zone elevations of Shed 9.
No recent avalanche activity was observed.
Active windloading occurring throughout the day on northeasterly and easterly aspects.
~Four inch (~4”) to ~six inch (~6”) very soft windslab beginning to form on leeward slopes above 5200 feet elevation.
No collapsing or audible failures observed.
Full profile conducted on a 37-degree slope in the starting zone of Shed 9 (pit profile attached).
Profile location was on a south aspect at 6700’ elevation.
Total snowpack depth at profile location was 56” (140 cm).
Stability tests were limited to one (1) Extended Column Test with no propagating results.
Please refer to Shed 9 profile JPEG for additional data.
~Two inch (~2”) crust near snowpack surface was breaking out on facets beneath the crust under
skier weight (photo).
Cornice formation in Shed 7 West (photo). No recent cornice fall observed today in Shed 7 West or Shed 9.
Clear to partly cloudy skies for the morning hours into the early afternoon accompanied by excellent visibility at all elevations with no precipitation.
By approximately 1400, overcast skies along with very light snow (S-1) began.
Westerly winds observed throughout the day with wind strength increasing as the day progressed.
Wind strength throughout our tour was substantial enough to be transporting wind onto leeward aspects (easterly and northeasterly) at elevations above 5200’ elevation.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Travel Details
Region:
Flathead Range/Glacier National Park - John F. Stevens Canyon
Route Description:
To 7000 feet
Activity:
Skiing
