Stillwater State Forest

Location Name: Stryker Ridge Observation date: Thursday, March 4, 2021 - 13:00	Is this an Avalanche Observation: Yes

Observation made by: Public

Location

Tabs

Quick Observation

Stillwater State Forest out for a sunny day of avalanche training. Outstanding visibilty afforded us views of some big avalanche terrain. Overall activity was surprisingly quiet given warm temps and intense solar radiation. We found a number of crusts on top of and within the snowpack:

Noticed 3 x D2, and roughly 6 x D1 appear on S-SW aspects at mid and upper elevations between 1pm and 3pm.
Snow surface on NE aspect at 4500' consisted of surface hoar on a thin breakable crust. This started to break down at 1pm where exposed to sun.
Snow surface on E aspect at 5500' consisted of a thin eggshell crust.
In our pits @ 5000' NE aspect we found a crust buried by roughly two feet of snow that produced hand and shovel shears with easy force.
No shooting cracks or whumphing.
Rollerball/pinwheel activity was minimal possibly due to surface crusts.

Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:

Travel Details

Region:

Whitefish Range - Northern (north of Coal Creek)

Activity:

Snowmobiling

Snowshoeing

Snowpack Details

Snowpack and Weather Details:

Terrain

Elevation of observation:

3500-5000 ft

5000-6500 ft

Aspect(s) of observation:

Red Flags:

Avalanches from the past 2 days

Rapid or prolonged warming

Persistent Weak Layers:

Surface Hoar

Facets or Faceted Crust

On the surface

Buried

New Snow in the past 24 hours:

0.00in.

Total Snow Depth:

125cm

More comments about the snowpack and weather:

4500' NE aspect: 0.5 cm surface hoar on top of 1 cm P crust. This began to break down at 1300 hrs where exposed to sun. Pit @ 5000' NE aspect: HS = 125 cm, 1.5 cm K crust @ 65 cm, 2.5 cm K crust at 40 cm w/ wet facets facets underneath. 5500' E aspect: Very thin K crust on surface survived the heat of the day.

Blowing Snow:

None

Wind Speed:

Calm (No air motion)

Air temperature:

Above Freezing

Sky Cover:

Clear (CLR)

Highest Precipitation Rate:

No Precipitation (NO)

Avalanche Details

Avalanche Details:

Date and Time of Avalanche:

Thursday, March 4, 2021 - 13:00

Number of avalanches:

Avalanche Type:

Wet Loose

Failure Plane/Weak Layer:

Old snow

More information or comments about the avalanche:

Noticed several D2 appear on the bigger terrain across the drain between 1300-1500 hrs

Trigger

Trigger:

natural

Terrain

Start Zone Slope Angle:

Aspect:

Southwest

Starting Elevation:

above-treeline

Size

Destructive Size:

D2 Could bury, injure, or kill a person.

Relative Size:

R1 Very Small

Avalanche Location:

Date and Time of Avalanche:

Thursday, March 4, 2021 - 13:00

Number of avalanches:

Avalanche Type:

Wet Loose

Failure Plane/Weak Layer:

Old snow

More information or comments about the avalanche:

A handful of D1s originating in rock outcrops.

Trigger

Trigger:

natural

Terrain

Start Zone Slope Angle:

Aspect:

South

Starting Elevation:

near-treeline

Size

Destructive Size:

D1 Relatively harmless to people.

Relative Size:

R1 Very Small

Avalanche Location:

Avalanche Forecasts

Tutorials

Observations

Weather

Classes and Events

Videos

Online Resources

Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center

Flathead Avalanche Center

Stillwater State Forest

Location

Tabs

Call

Contact

In Partnership With

In Partnership With

Avalanche Forecasts

Tutorials

Observations

Weather

Classes and Events

Videos

Online Resources

Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center

Flathead Avalanche Center

Stillwater State Forest

Location

Tabs

Search

Follow or Subscribe

Call

Contact

In Partnership With

In Partnership With