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Slabbier Since Yesterday
Location Name:
BNSF Avalanche Safety - Snowslip Mtn. GNP
Observation date:
Wednesday, February 26, 2020 - 23:30
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
No
Observation made by:
Public
Tabs
Quick Observation
Toured up the Shed 6/7 ridge to Shed 7 weather station, then continued to the upper starting zone of Shed 7 West.
Descended the Shed 7 West path.
Objectives were to observe the extent of recent wind-loading, look for any recent avalanche activity, and hunt for buried surface hoar.
No new avalanche activity observed since yesterday’s small D1 loose snow avalanches.
Debris from last week’s cornice fall in Shed 7 West ran about 1000 vertical feet down path, terminating well above the rail grade.
Moderate westerly winds were forming new wind slabs on easterly aspects above 5000 feet. We found new drifts up to 10-15 inches thick at most, but in other locations only 2-5 inches thick. These were mostly unreactive to ski cuts or only produced some minor cracking on steep test slopes.
The Shed 7 West cornice is getting large, 6-10+ feet tall in places.
Looked for buried surface hoar in several hand pits at all elevations and on the aspects we travelled through: N-E-S and didn’t find any.
Dug a test pit at 6600 feet on a NE aspect down 47 inches to the 2/1 crust. No surface hoar found. Total snow depth=118 inches. Extended Column Test yielded ECTX.
Dug a 2nd test pit at 6650 feet on an ESE aspect in the Shed 7 West path down 53 inches to the 2/1 crust. Found a thin (~1/4 inch) sun crust formed during last week’s sunny weather 14 inches down, ECTN19 on this layer. Total snow depth=93 inches.
Mostly cloudy skies with steady moderate westerly winds above 5500 feet.
Occasional S-1 to S2 snow flurries. No new accumulation on the Canyon floor with ~1-2 inches new snow above 6000 feet during the day.
Air temperatures on the Canyon floor reached the mid-30s °F this afternoon and the low to mid-20s °F above 6000 feet.
Travel Details
Region:
Flathead Range/Glacier National Park - John F. Stevens Canyon
Activity:
Skiing
