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East Side GNP
Location Name:
Scenic Point
Observation date:
Wednesday, January 31, 2018 - 21:15
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
No
Observation made by:
Public
Tabs
Quick Observation
Toured in the Scenic Point/Bison Mountain area on the east side of Glacier Park. Travelled on all aspects between elevations of 5000-7500 feet.
Skies alternated between partly sunny to fully overcast with periods of light to moderate snowfall, with heavier snowfall in the late afternoon. Accumulated about 2-3 inches snow on the truck at the trailhead between 10 am and 5 pm.
West-soutwest winds were gusting up to the 20-30 mph range, but other times calm with light to moderate wind loading at times, mostly onto easterly aspects.
Estimate temps were mid 20s to high teens deg F.
We found new wind slabs, mostly about 6-12 inches thick. These were unreactive to ski cuts, stomps, skiing on test slopes.
No recent avalanche activity.
Found a poor snowpack structure with basal facets at locations with a thin (less than 2 feet deep) snowpack above 6000 feet on northerly through easterly aspects.
Dug a pit on the north face of Bison at 6600 feet elevation. Total snow depth was 150 cm.
In the pit we found facets near the bottom and several buried crusts. The uppermost crust was about 60 cm down, 3 cm thick, and had a thin layer of facets on top which proved to be reactive in an Extended Column test - ECTP23.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Travel Details
Region:
Outside of the Advisory Area
Activity:
Skiing
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details:
Terrain
Elevation of observation:
5000-6500 ft
Above 6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation:
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Red Flags:
Blowing snow
Persistent Weak Layers:
Buried
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details:
Date and Time of Avalanche:
Wednesday, January 31, 2018 - 21:15
