The Belly of the Whale

Old news at this point, but just wanted to share some info gathered from an extended trip in the Northern Whitefish Range last week.
 

• Pit Profile attached shows snow structure on south facing near tree line prior to the 1/6-1/7 wallop.
• 1/3-1/6 we observed very low density snow, undisturbed by wind at all elevations. At upper elevations this snow was deposited on top of a decomposing wind slab, and at middle and lower elevations, the snowpack was shallow and faceted throughout.
• At upper elevations, we applyed ski pressure to terrain features that are typically crossloaded (harboring wind slabs) with no signs of instability.
• At lower elevations, we were triggering small (D1) Loose dry avalanches that were failing within the old faceted snow. These were occuring on isolated pieces of terrain with very steep short pitches through rocky outcrops.
• Despite clear calm nights early in the week, we did not observe surface hoar development.
• Around 2pm on 1/6, we observed rapidly changing conditions as light winds with moderate gust entered the area.
• We awoke on 1/7 with 12.5cm of warm dense snow and light winds at low elevations.
• The snowpack was talkative that morning. Moderate SW winds/ stong gusts at middle and upper elevations. Lots of cracking on small test slopes and switchbacks.
• The relatively warm snow and wind favored impressive cornice growth above NE slopes. We skied one run before retreating back to the cabin. We avoided instabilities on decent by chosing planar SW slopes less than 35 degrees scoured/pressed by the wind.

Weather data collected from an unofficial plot established at the Ninko Cabin

• 1/3 (PM): Estimated 15cm new snow between 9am-9pm. -5 Celsius (C)
• 1/4 (AM): HS-73.5. Overnight Snow 0.5cm. -10 C.
• 1/4 (PM): HS24 3.5cm. -15 C
• 1/5 (AM): HS-75cm. Overnight Snow 1.0cm. -19 C.
• 1/5 (PM): HS24 1cm. -21 C
• 1/6 (AM): HS-74cm. Overnight Snow 2.5cm. -19 C
• 1/6 (PM): HS24 5cm. -13.5 C
• 1/7 (AM): HS-86. Overnight Snow 12.5cm. -5 C
• 1/7 (PM): HS24 22cm. -3 C
• 1/8 (AM): HS-100cm. Overnight Snow 23cm. -8.5 C

  Weather Summary: 69.5cm (27 inches) fell between 1/3-1/8. Storm fell upside down. Started Cold, Finished Warm. Started Calm, Finished Breezy. Most concerned about crossloaded southerlies at middle/lower elevations where we observed a weak shallow snowpack prior to the warm wallop.