Forecaster Observation - Skyland area, Flathead Range

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Skyland area, Flathead Range
Region: 
Flathead Range - Marias Pass/Skyland
Date and time of observation: 
Fri, 02/24/2017 - 12:00
Location Map: 

Red Flags: 
Recent loading by new snow, wind, or rain
Observation made by: Forecaster
Snowpit Observations
More detailed information about the snowpack: 

Traveled the ridgelines south of Baldhead Mountain in the Skyland area. Objectives were to note near surface conditions.

  • Up to 16" (36 cm) of new snow comprised the snow surface at upper elevations. This snow fell "right side up" and was F hard at the surface which increased to 1F- at the bottom of the new snow. 
  • Beneath the surface snow sat a 1" (2.5) thick pencil hard rain crust formed by the February 16 rain event. In our stability tests we observed failure with hard force on top of this layer. No propagation was observed. CT23, ECTN 24.
  • A 2.5" (5 cm) layer of dense (1F-) snow sat below the February 16 crust.
  • A  1" (2.5 cm) thick knife hard rain crust formed by the February 9 rain event was below the dense snow. In stability tests failure with hard force occured immediately below the bottom of this layer. No propagation was observed. CT 30, ECTN 30
  • The January 19 rain crust was located 40" (100 cm) below the surface at our pit location. No results were observed on this layer in our stability tests.
  • During our ski descent sluffing of surface snow occured on steep pitches but was relatively small and consisted of just the top few inches of snow.
  • New surface hoar growth was observed on all aspects at all elevations. Crystal size ranged from 4-8 mm.
Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Cloud Cover: 
50% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Activity: 
Skiing