Public Observation - Whumphing on Paola Ridge, Flathead Range

Location Name: 
Public Observation - Paola Ridge, Flathead Range
Region: 
Flathead Range - Middle Fork Corridor
Date and time of observation: 
Thu, 03/02/2017 - 14:14
Location Map: 

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

Our group experienced localized collapsing up to 5000' while touring up Paola ridge.  Dug a pit at 4800' on an East aspect and observed propagation in an extended column test with moderate force on a weak layer of small facets just above the Feb. 9th rain crust (buried 60cm from the surface). The snowpack was shallower (185cm deep) in this location.  The warm temps seem to have formed a more cohesive storm slab at these lower elevations.

As we climbed up the ridge, the new storm snow depth above the crust continued to increase.  At ~7000' we dug another pit (SSE aspect) and the Feb. 9th rain crust was buried 120cm from the surface.  In this pit, our extended column test failed and propagated with hard force ~75 cm and then again ~95cm from the surface.  Both were on storm snow hardness differences.  We did not find the thick hard wind slabs we expected at high elevation, but predicted that they could be found in the heavily loaded and exposed areas.

Snowpack photos: 
Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Light (Twigs in motion)
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Static
Wind Direction: 
West
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

In and out snow flurries throughout the day with consistently light winds that gusted into the moderate (and occasionally strong).

Activity: 
Skiing
Precip Rate: 
S1; light snowfall, 1cm/hour