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Cameahwait Slab Avalanche
Location Name:
BNSF Avalanche Safety - JFS Canyon
Observation date:
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 - 19:30
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
Yes
Observation made by:
Public
Tabs
Quick Observation
Daytime high temperatures reached almost 60 degrees today on the Canyon floor and the high-40s at the upper elevation weather stations (~6400').
New avalanche activity for today includeed some small (up to D1.5) wet loose avalanches observed on steep slopes in Path 1163 on rocky, southerly aspects.
A D2 wet loose in the Shed 10 Feeder path, a steep SE facing chute.
Most notable today was the SE face of Cameahwait which produced a nice slab avalanche sometime this afternoon (photo). Looks like it could have been cornice-triggered and that it also stepped down to a deeper weak layer partway down the path.
More details in the Avalanche Tab.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Travel Details
Region:
Flathead Range/Glacier National Park - John F. Stevens Canyon
Route Description:
Driving US Hwy 2
Activity:
Other
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details:
Date and Time of Avalanche:
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 - 16:00
Number of avalanches:
1
Avalanche Type:
Hard Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer:
Old snow
More information or comments about the avalanche:
Pretty sure this ran sometime between 1530 and 1800. I did not see it on my afternoon drive through the Canyon, but then noticed it around 1800 on my evening rounds.
Crown dimensions and D-size are estimated from afar. I couldn't see the runout.
Not certain what the two different failure planes are? The initial crown looks pretty thick and then it appears to have stepped down into an even more deeply buried weak layer.
Trigger
Trigger:
natural
Trigger Modifier:
Cornice Fall Triggered
Terrain
Start Zone Slope Angle:
40
Aspect:
East
Starting Elevation:
7600
Size
Destructive Size:
D3 - Could destroy a car, a wood house, or snap trees
Relative Size:
R3 Medium
Crown Height:
3 ft
Avalanche Width (Average width):
700ft.
Avalanche Location:
Javascript is required to view this map.
Date and Time of Avalanche:
Wednesday, March 23, 2022 - 13:00
Number of avalanches:
1
Avalanche Type:
Wet Loose
Failure Plane/Weak Layer:
Old snow
More information or comments about the avalanche:
The largest wet loose observed today above the rail.
Trigger
Trigger:
natural
Terrain
Start Zone Slope Angle:
40
Aspect:
Southeast
Starting Elevation:
above-treeline
Size
Destructive Size:
D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.
Relative Size:
R3 Medium
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):
1000ft.
Avalanche Location:
Javascript is required to view this map.
