Forecaster Observation - Cascade Creek, Flathead Range

We toured up Cascade Creek in the Flathead Range with the goal of determining snow surface conditions and related instabilities.

• Snow at low elevations was transitioning from dry to moist on our ascent. This resulted in sticky heavy snow that adhered to our skins and top sheets. On our descent it was impossible to not kick off rollerballs on most every turn at this elevation. These rollerballs gained substantial size as they traveled downhill.
• Snow at mid and upper elevations was still dry and low density. We noted instabilities within the recent storms on our ascent that presented themselves as storm slabs that would crack but not propagate.
• Our pit was at 6300' on a northeast aspect with a total snow depth of 340 cm. We noted 122 cm of settled snow (F - 4F hard) on top of the February 9 and 16 rain crust. These crusts were one crust in this location, 12 cm thick and P+ hard in this location. There was a thin (1 cm) layer of facets on top of this crust.
• Stability tests showed fracture without propagation within the various recent storms. No clean shears were observed during these tests.
• We removed the upper 122 cm of snow and hammered on the February crust without success of breaking this crust or obtaining a failure below this crust.
• Wind loading occurred throughout our tour.
• We were seriously concerned about the possibility of suffocation due to a face first fall during our descent.
• One slab avalanche of size was noted in the Rescue Creek drainage.