Professional Observation - Snowshed Mountain

Location Name: 
Professional Observation - Snowshed Mountain
Region: 
Flathead Range - Middle Fork Corridor
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 01/01/2017 - 13:15
Location Map: 

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

Dug a quick pit below the subpeak ridge east aspect, ~ 7100', 34° slope, 295cm deep.  Consistent results in both our Compression and Extended Column Tests with moderate force Q3 fractures along a hardness difference within the new snow (~30cm from surface) and harder force breaking Q2 fractures on more deeply buried light density snow (~65cm from surface).  We experienced no propogation in our tests.

Results: CTE10Q3@270, CTM17Q2@230, ECTN15@265, ECTN21@255, ECTN25@230

The layer at 230cm appeared to be the earlier light density snow buried underneather later warmer storms and plenty of wind loading.  Even though the snow surface above 6000' showed the effects of wind loading, we did not find the wind slab we expected, instead just consolidated new snow.  We did not notice any evidence of the extraordinary graupel event from a few days ago nor any weak layer faceting within the upper 150cm of the snowpack.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Moderate (Small trees sway)
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
East
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

The cold front built throughout our brief tour with cooling temps, increasing winds, and consistent light snowfall.  The cold front brought consistent winds from the East, which were transporting snow and cornices were building on the predicted atypical ridges (photo included). The brunt of the front seemed to pass around 2pm, leaving cold calm conditions throughout the Middle Fork.

Activity: 
Skiing
Precip Rate: 
S -1; very light snowfall, trace to 0.5cm/hour