Today’s objective was to head into the Flathead Range to assess new storm and wind slab instabilities. With so much uncertainty in the weather forecast, we also wanted to observe what was going on heading into another possible storm cycle. The weather forecast did not produce expected snowfall accumulations today.
Today, we felt comfortable skiing avalanche terrain by entering further downslope where winds had not affected new snow. We skied slopes up to 40 degrees in steepness one at a time. Our terrain choices exceeded our expectations due to a lack of new snow accumulations.
I jumped on a few pockets where graupel pooled up to 8 inches at cliff base and I couldn't get anything to move. My partner came in behind me and was able to trigger one slab by putting in a ski cut over my existing track.
Quick roadside observation driving past Nyack. Could see three sizeable piles of debris. Terminated mid path.
