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Slabby
Location Name:
Forecaster Observation - Apgar Range
Observation date:
Tuesday, December 21, 2021 - 15:00
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
No
Observation made by:
Forecaster
Tabs
Quick Observation
I took advantage of the open Camas Road to take a day off walk in the Apgars.
The coverage is surprisingly good at low elevations. The rain/wet snow mix from Saturday night/Sunday morning left a crust a couple of inches thick on the surface. An impressive tree bomb cycle, probably from the weekend, has further densified the surface snow. Several inches of recent low-density snow caps the crust.
As we gained elevation, the surface showed the effects of recent winds. Hand pits revealed slabs up to 7 inches thick in lodgepole pine forests at low and mid-elevations.
We found reactive surface slabs a few inches thick and harmless in open mid-elevation terrain.
Wind speeds increased through the day and blew in sections of our skin trail in the trees by the afternoon.
There was wind transport on the higher peaks in Glacier and on ridges in our drainage most of the day.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Travel Details
Region:
Glacier National Park - Apgar Range
Activity:
Skiing
Snowpack Details
Snowpack and Weather Details:
Terrain
Elevation of observation:
3500-5000 ft
5000-6500 ft
Aspect(s) of observation:
SE
S
Red Flags:
Blowing snow
Persistent Weak Layers:
Not observed
New Snow in the past 24 hours:
2.00in.
More comments about the snowpack and weather:
Beautiful blue sunny skies to start the day, which deteriorated to obscured by late afternoon. The temperature was in the upper teens to low twenties through the day.
Blowing Snow:
Light
Wind Speed:
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Wind Direction:
Southwest
Air temperature:
Below Freezing
Snow line:
1000'
Sky Cover:
Overcast (OVC)
