Public Observation - Rescue Creek, Flathead Range

Location Name: 
Public Observation - Rescue Creek, Flathead Range
Region: 
Flathead Range - Middle Fork Corridor
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 03/16/2016 - 13:35
Location Map: 

Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Obvious avalanche path
Observation made by: Public
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

10 cm of uncohesive new snow at 6k' with more higher up and less below... made for excellent skinning conditions and even better skiing conditions!  Wind-buffed upper 200 vertical feet of Mount Penrose.  Large cornices noticed hanging above both Nyak and Penrose's north through east aspects.

Dug a quick pit at 6200' - NE aspect - 30° slope - HS >300cm:

-ECTN12 @ 15cm from surface on mid-storm graupel layer

-ECTN27 @ 40cm from surface on facets/wet snow below a rain/MF crust

-ECTN29 @ 48cm from surface on facets between rain/MF crusts

-CT11 Q3 @ 15cm from surface on gaupel layer

-CT19 Q2 @ 40cm from surface on facets/wet snow below a rain crust

The new snow seemed like it was bonding well to the old decomposing rain/MF crust from last week!

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

What I'd like to tell our snowpack in the words of Harry Dunne: "Just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and so something like this... and totally redeem yourself!"

Also, I expect that today's soft slab/new snow instabilities (powder) will be tomorrow's touchy wind slabs!

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: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
Greater than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Snowfall was constant throughout the day with its rates varying between S-1 and S5 (for an hour or so)... all this with consistently moderate winds that increased throughout the day. 

Activity: 
Skiing
Precip Rate: 
S2; moderate snowfall, 2cm/hour
High Temp. (C): 
0
Low Temp. (C): 
-4