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Snowslip Observations
Location Name:
Forecaster Observation - Snowslip Mtn, GNP
Observation date:
Tuesday, January 2, 2018 - 12:30
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
No
Observation made by:
Forecaster
Tabs
Quick Observation
Recent westerly winds left shallow, hard wind slabs localized to just below ridgelines that were easy to identify and avoid. Stomping on these drifts produced only minor cracking.
We experienced several moderate collapses around 5,000 ft in elevation. The snowpack appeared to gain strength with elevation. We traveled on several wind sheltered slopes above 6,000 ft with no signs of instability and no propagating results in stability tests.
The snow surface is made up of weak stellar dendrites and/or surface hoar (above a thin melt-freeze crust on steep, southerly aspects)
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Travel Details
Region:
Flathead Range/Glacier National Park - John F. Stevens Canyon
Route Description:
Snowslip Mtn, Shed 7 and Shed 6 up to 6,500 ft.
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details:
Terrain
Elevation of observation:
5000-6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation:
E
SE
S
Red Flags:
Collapsing / whumpfing noises
Persistent Weak Layers:
Buried
New Snow in the past 24 hours:
0.00in.
More comments about the snowpack and weather:
Dug on a E aspect at 6000' and SE aspect at 6500'. Snowpack structures were similar. The 12/15 facet layer is on the ground here (no crusts). 1.5-2mm, rounding facets, 4F hard. The slab above is ~100 cm thick, increasing in stiffness towards the weak layer from F to 4F to 1F. ECTX with a non-propagating fracture after additional loading steps.
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details:
