Professional Observation - John F. Stevens Canyon, southern Glacier NP

Location Name: 
Professional Observation - John F. Stevens Canyon, southern Glacier NP
Region: 
Flathead Range/Glacier National Park - John F. Stevens Canyon
Date and time of observation: 
Tue, 02/23/2016 - 12:11
Location Map: 

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

Toured up the Shed 7/6 ridge to the starting zone of Shed 7 East.  Conducted a full snow profile at this location and associated stability tests. Descended to the Shed 5 starting zone and conducted a test pit.  Descended Shed 5 to the Canyon floor.

  • Snow surface consisted of dry powder conditions to approximately 5000’ elevation (shaded aspect) and supportable melt/freeze conditions below that elevation.
  • No audible whoomphs, collapsing, or shooting cracks.
  • Full profile conducted at 6440’ on a 35 degree SE aspect. 200 cm HS.  Profile consisted of dry snow in the upper 70 cm and moist snow below 130 cm to the ground.  All layers in profile were 1F hardness or more.  Recent windslab development was present in the upper 26 cm of snowpack.
  • Stability tests in Shed 7 East consisted of both ECT and CT.  ECTN 24 and CTM 19 Q2 @ 174.  This was our greatest layer of concern and existed between the interface of recent windslab development and underlying snow.
  • Test profile in Shed 5 was also conducted on a SE aspect.  Snowpack depth was 110 cm and slope angle was 36 degrees. No significant results.
  • No temperature profile conducted.
  • No recent slab avalanche activity observed.
  • Intentionally triggered a very small and isolated wind slab while approaching our profile location in Shed 7 East.  This very small slab was 10-15 cm in depth and five (5) meters in width.  It released on a steep convex roll and terminated with about three (3) meters vertical fall at the base of the roll.
  • No other slab avalanche activity observed.
Any other comments about the observation or links to outside pages that have more info on the observation: 

BNSF AVALANCHE SAFETY FIELD OBSERVATIONS SUBMITTED TO FLATHEAD AVALANCHE CENTER AND GLACIER NATIONAL PARK ARE BEING PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED GLACIER NATIONAL PARK SPECIAL USE PERMIT.  

THESE OBSERVATIONS REPRESENT SITE SPECIFIC INFORMATION INTENDED FOR THE BNSF AVALANCHE SAFETY PROGRAM AND IN NO WAY ARE TO BE CONSTRUED AS A PUBLIC/ RECREATION AVALANCHE FORECAST.  

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Air temperature: 
Wind Speed: 
Precipitation: 
Air temperature trend: 
Wind Direction: 
Accumulation rate: 
More detailed information about the weather: 

Broken skies, moderate westerly winds, and air temperatures in the 20s F at elevations above 5,200 feet (’) and 30s at lower elevations. No precipitation and wind transport of snow occurring onto S, SE, E, and NE aspects.

Activity: 
Skiing