Forecaster Observation-Kimmerly Basin, Whitefish Range

Traveled to Kimmerly Basin in the southern Whitefish Range.  We found between 6 and 10 inches of new snow in places with wind transport occurring from moderately strong southwest winds.  Snowpack on the southwest aspect was shallow and harbored depth hoar at the ground, but did not show signs of instability in tests.  On a wind loaded slope on an east aspect, we found a much deeper snowpack with almost 2 feet of new snow from the last couple of days sitting on top of what we expect is a less dense layer of new snow from Saturday night.  Those layers sit on top of the wind hardened snow from the wind event a little over a week ago.  Tests results showed propagation on that weak layer almost 2 feet down with moderate to hard force.  Additionally, what we believe to be a natural avalanche (SS-N-R1-D1-I) occurred approximately 100 feet from our pit location while we were in it.  We expect that failed as well on the weaker layer of new snow between 1 and 2 feet beneath the surface.  It is possible that our presence on the slope may have triggered this avalanche, but the structure of the snowpack does not strongly support that possibility.