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Wind loading on the Canyon floor
Location Name:
BNSF Avalanche Safety - JFS Canyon
Observation date:
Tuesday, January 4, 2022 - 16:00
Is this an Avalanche Observation:
Yes
Observation made by:
Public
Tabs
Quick Observation
Road observations of the Railway avalanche terrain on Running Rabbit and Snowslip Mountains and then a short ski tour to a large cut bank above the rail known as Java Gauntlet, located between Java and Sheep Creeks.
Objectives were to look for avalanche activity, observe recent snowfall totals and wind-loading, and investigate snowpack structure and stability in the Gauntlet.
No avalanche activity observed save for two very small (3-6” thick and 3-6’ wide) intentionally triggered wind slabs in the Gauntlet. Associated debris ran only a few feet and terminated well above the grade.
Overnight snowfall on the Canyon floor totaled 2-4”. Weather stations above 6000’ are reporting 4-6”
Moderate easterly winds were channeling down the Canyon forming fresh wind slabs on the Canyon floor.
A snowpit dug at 4100’ elevation at the eastern end of Java Gauntlet, NE aspect, 30° slope. Snow depth was 35”. Most notable are layers of weak faceted snow above/below the December 18th crust, now buried about. Poor structure but no propagating results today with an Extended Column test (see pit profile).
Another push of Arctic air came over the Divide last night. Air temperatures on the Canyon floor dropped from near freezing to as low as -10 °F by sunrise today. Winds clocked from the west to the E-NE and increased in speeds.
Today we had overcast with occasional broken skies and on again/off again flurries of snow and graupel mixed.
Winds above 6000’ remained predominantly from the west, mostly light, but with moderate gusts.
Snowpack, Avalanche, Weather Images:
Travel Details
Region:
Flathead Range/Glacier National Park - John F. Stevens Canyon
Route Description:
Road observations of the Railway avalanche terrain on Running Rabbit and Snowslip Mountains and then a short ski tour to a large cut bank above the rail known as Java Gauntlet, located between Java and Sheep Creeks.
Activity:
Skiing
Other
Avalanche Details
Avalanche Details:
Date and Time of Avalanche:
Tuesday, January 4, 2022 - 13:00
Number of avalanches:
2
Avalanche Type:
Soft Slab
Failure Plane/Weak Layer:
Within storm snow
More information or comments about the avalanche:
Ski cuts resulted in two tiny slab releases on slope at the west end of the Java Gauntlet cut bank.
Trigger
Trigger:
skier
Trigger Modifier:
Intentionally Triggered
Terrain
Aspect:
East
Starting Elevation:
below-treeline
Size
Destructive Size:
D1 Relatively harmless to people.
Relative Size:
R1 Very Small
Crown Height:
Less than 1 ft
Avalanche Length (Vertical Run):
30ft.
Avalanche Width (Average width):
6ft.
Avalanche Location:
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