Skip to main content
Flathead Avalanche Center
Responsive Links
Advisories
Observations
Donate
Forecasts
Avalanche Forecasts
Whitefish Range
Swan Range
Flathead Range and Glacier N. P.
Archives
Sign up for emailed forecasts
Tutorials
How to read the Forecast
Avalanche Problems
The Danger Scale
Observations
Observations
Field Observations
Observations prior to Oct.1 2022
Incidents
Snowpack Tracker
Submit Observation
Weather
Western MT Backcountry Weather Forecast
Weather Station Table
Weather Station Map
Education
Classes and Events
Course List
Event Calendar
Class Details and Registration
Northern Rockies Snow & Avy Workshop
Mentorship
Videos
Throttle Decisions Video Series
Local Awareness Videos
Online Resources
Avalanche Encyclopedia
Avalanche Canada tutorial
Know Before You Go Online Course
Backcountry Ascender - Motorized Specific
BCA Tutorial
FOFAC Recorded Classes
About
Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center
FOFAC
How To Help
Sponsors
Donate
Flathead Avalanche Center
Blog
Staff
Contact
Annual Reports
Donate
BNSF Avalanche Safety Field Observations
Location Name:
Running Rabbit Mountain Shed 10.7 ridge
Observation date:
Tuesday, January 2, 2018 - 23:30
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
No
Observation made by:
Professional Observer
Tabs
Quick Observation
Toured up the ridge that divides the Shed 11 and Shed 10.7 avalanche paths on the south face of Running Rabbit Mountain. Climbed to our weather station at about 6400 feet and also dug a snowpit in the upper starting zone of the Shed 11 path. Descended the same route.
Mostly clear skies with no precipitation and air temperatures ranging from single digits to high-teens °F at the Canyon floor and low-mid 20s °F above 6000 feet. Winds were mostly calm or light from west.
We noted two audible collapses on our descent, one up at about 6200 feet in the starting zone of Shed 10.7 and another on the ridge around 5000 feet. But we did not see any shooting cracks or recent avalanche activity.
Found variable conditions on our tour, from deep unconsolidated powder to supportable windslabs. Also noted a thin, weak sun crust was forming on slopes exposed to full sun.
East winds have formed hard slabs on westerly aspects and along the Shed 11-10.7 ridge crest.
We dug one snowpit at 6400 feet on a 33 degree slope with a south aspect. Total snow depth here was 107 cm. Snow profile and an Extended Column Test revealed improving strength and little to no energy (ECTX). But we still found the early December faceted layer at the bottom of the pit (photo 1, snowpit profile).
Of note, the snowpit location was snow free after the Thanksgiving rain/warm up event. The bottom 10 cm here were the facets from the early December high pressure period.
No recent avalanche activity observed.
We did see an old crown on the east face of Mount Cameahwait (photo 2) and noticed several large (D2-D3) debris piles down in the valley bottom of Sheep Creek from avalanches that ran on the south face of Snowshed Mountain.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details:
Date and Time of Avalanche:
Tuesday, January 2, 2018 - 23:30
