Professional Observation - John F. Stevens Canyon

Location Name: 
Professional Observation - John F. Stevens Canyon
Region: 
Flathead Range/Glacier National Park - John F. Stevens Canyon
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 01/06/2017 - 12:25
Location Map: 


Observation made by: Public
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 
  • Snowpack encountered on the tour was variable. Below 5000 feet encountered shallow, faceted and punchy snow. Above 5000 feet found a mix of supportable, hard, wind slabs and a more recent wind crust that was breakable. Terrain was wind loaded on both sides the ridge.
  • Minor shooting cracks (1 m out from under skis) noted in the most recent wind crusts in a few isolated locations between 5000 and 6000 feet.
  • Hasty pit at 6400’ on a 32 degree slope, S aspect. 105 cm HS (0 cm at the ground), CT 18 @ 70 cm Q2 on a layer of small facets sandwiched between two wind slabs. ECTN 19 on this same layer.
  • Depth hoar at the bottom 5-10 cm of snowpack. No results in stability tests on this layer. Noted grains appeared larger/more developed than last site visit on 12/22.
  • No avalanche activity observed.
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

Toured up the Shed 11/10.7 ridge to the weather station just above the top of the Shed 11 avalanche path. Spent some time maintaining weather station and then dug a hasty pit in the very upper reaches of the Shed 11 start zone. Descended the same route.

BNSF AVALANCHE SAFETY FIELD OBSERVATIONS SUBMITTED TO FLATHEAD AVALANCHE CENTER AND GLACIER NATIONAL PARK ARE BEING PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE GLACIER NATIONAL PARK SPECIAL USE PERMIT.  

THESE OBSERVATIONS REPRESENT SITE SPECIFIC INFORMATION INTENDED FOR THE BNSF AVALANCHE SAFETY PROGRAM AND IN NO WAY ARE TO BE CONSTRUED AS A PUBLIC/ RECREATION AVALANCHE FORECAST.

Weather Observations
Cloud Cover: 
25% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Calm (No air motion)
Air temperature trend: 
Static
More detailed information about the weather: 

Broken skies, calm or light and variable winds, and air temperatures in the single digits °F at elevations above 6000 feet. No precipitation.

Activity: 
Skiing
High Temp. (C): 
-13