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Changing conditions from today’s wind
Location Name:
Forecaster Observation- Rescue Creek, Flathead Range
Observation date:
Monday, January 1, 2018 - 17:00
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
Yes
Observation made by:
Forecaster
Tabs
Quick Observation
Down valley winds briefly increased this morning, turning the low density surface snow upside-down above 5500 ft. We easily triggered several D1 soft slabs, 4” to 8” thick on steep rollovers and gullies.
At 6000 ft, on an un-avalanched northerly terrain feature, the Thanksgiving crust was 140 cm deep. The facets above it are 4F+, 1.5 mm in size, showing signs of rounding.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Travel Details
Region:
Flathead Range - Middle Fork Corridor
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details:
Terrain
Elevation of observation:
5000-6500 ft
Above 6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation:
N
Persistent Weak Layers:
Buried
New Snow in the past 24 hours:
0.00in.
Total Snow Depth:
200 cm
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details:
Date and Time of Avalanche:
Monday, January 1, 2018 - 14:00
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer:
Within storm snow
Trigger
Trigger:
skier
Trigger Modifier:
Intentionally Triggered
Terrain
Aspect:
North
Starting Elevation:
above-treeline
Size
Destructive Size:
D1 Relatively harmless to people.
Relative Size:
R1 Very Small
Crown Height:
Less than 1 ft
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):
50ft.
Avalanche Width (Average width):
15ft.
People Involved
Number of people caught:
0
Avalanche Location:
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