Public Observation - Tranquil Basin, Mt. Furlong, Flathead Range

Location Name: 
Public Observation - Tranquil Basin, Mt. Furlong, Flathead Range
Region: 
Flathead Range - Middle Fork Corridor
Date and time of observation: 
Sun, 03/13/2016 - 12:00
Location Map: 

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

We noticed breakable surface crust below 5500' with ~20cm of wet snow below.  Firm, mostly supportable crust with a dusting (2cm) of new snow on top above 6000'.   Higher up, northerly aspects held a sheltered 10+ cm of decomposing creamy snow that skied quite well, but a definitive breakable crust was noticed 5cm from the surface below 6500.'

Dug pit at 6800' E facing on a 38° slope: HS 180, found a layercake of crusts within the top 40cm of snow.  ECTP22 @ 158 and CT21 @ 150 - both failing on facets between M/F or rain crusts with Q1 shears.  Also of note - with further assistance (a hard tap or two at the end of our tests) we triggered Q1 shears @ 125cm on small facets just below a zipper crust (ECTP32 and CT31). No surface hoar to be found, and the Valentine's Day crust was well bonded and buried @110cm.

Snowpack photos: 
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

The skiing was rather challenging during our exit...

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
75% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light (Twigs in motion)
Precipitation: 
None
Air temperature trend: 
Cooling
Wind Direction: 
West
Activity: 
Skiing
High Temp. (C): 
3
Low Temp. (C): 
-3