Forecaster Observation - Ghoulie's Ridge, southern Whitefish Range

Location Name: 
Forecaster Observation - Ghoulie's Ridge, southern Whitefish Range
Region: 
Whitefish Range - Southern (south of Coal Creek)
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 01/14/2016 - 12:00
Location Map: 

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

In our Extended Column Tests on a southeast aspect at 6500 feet, we were able to initiate a fracture on the 1/12/2016 freezing rain crust with moderate force (1st test) and then hard force (2nd test).Two stability test completed in this pit:

Test 1: ECTP15 Q1Test 2: ECTP21 Q1

This is a good example of how recent avalanche activity should trump stability test results. In our pit (even though it was a different aspect) it required moderate to hard force, but just around the corner on an east aspect we were able to easily trigger a soft slab avalanche from a safe, flat ridge by just approaching from the top without even getting on to the slope. See observation: http://flatheadavalanche.org/avalanche-observation/thu-01142016-1100/for...

Snowpit or crown profile photo or graph: 
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

Avalanche observation from just around the corner: http://flatheadavalanche.org/avalanche-observation/thu-01142016-1100/for...

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
No
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: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Greater than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

Snowfall was intermittently between 0.5 to 1 inch per hour in the late morning/early afternoon.

Activity: 
Skiing
Precip Rate: 
S2; moderate snowfall, 2cm/hour