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
Cruising
Location Name:
Swan River State Forest
Observation date:
Friday, March 18, 2022 - 14:00
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
Yes
Observation made by:
Public
Location
Tabs
Quick Observation
Timber cruising between 4900' and 5600' N aspect:
Pleasant skinning - grippy but not gloppy.
3" new snow above semi supportable crust, some cracking associated with this layer.
10" total above the early-MAR crust.
Found facets above the early-MAR crust in one of six hand pits. This pit was at 5500', our highest point.
No feedback from the facet layer
Surface snow was wet enough to produce basketball-sized pinwheels, the crust and benchy terrain kept these from getting any larger.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Travel Details
Region:
Swan Range - South (south of Swan Lake)
Activity:
Skiing
Snowmobiling
Snowshoeing
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details:
Terrain
Elevation of observation:
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation:
N
NE
NW
Red Flags:
Rollerballs / pinwheels
Persistent Weak Layers:
Facets or Faceted Crust
Buried
New Snow in the past 24 hours:
3.00in.
Wind Speed:
Calm (No air motion)
Sky Cover:
Mostly Cloudy (BRK)
Highest Precipitation Rate:
Very Light Snowfall (S-1)