Public Observation - Touchy storm slabs above 5000', Flathead Range

Location Name: 
Public Observation - Marion, Rescue, Skiumah, Flathead Range
Region: 
Flathead Range - Middle Fork Corridor
Date and time of observation: 
Wed, 03/01/2017 - 19:00
Location Map: 

Red Flags: 
Recent avalanche activity
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: 

I toured the last few days up around Marion, Rescue, and Skiumah.  The temps had been cold until today's warming trend with strong SW winds all day and 50+ mph gusts in the trees and worse on ridgelines.  There's some occasional isolated cracking from 5000' and above, the cracking and remote triggering is more common on ridgelines / ridgecrests above 6000'.  I had no indication of settling.  In wind affected spots above 6000' there were wind slabs up to 75 cm's,  in some cases these wind slabs were sliding on an old snow surface and in others they were moving on light density storm snow.  Ski penetration was 1.5'  / 45 cm's  at lower elevations and 3+' above 5500'.  Sluffing has decreased as the density has increased and the storm snow is getting more cohesive.

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

Storm skiing conditions have been great but terrain management is critical in the upper elevations.  It appears to be critical to find lower angled and supported terrain right now.  ​ The hard old snow surface is now down 45-60 cm's but you can still feel it below 5000', above this elevation it's completely buried 

Weather Observations
Blowing Snow: 
Yes
Cloud Cover: 
100% of the sky covered by clouds
Air temperature: 
Below Freezing
Wind Speed: 
Strong (Whole trees in motion)
Precipitation: 
Snow
Air temperature trend: 
Warming
Wind Direction: 
Southwest
Accumulation rate: 
Less than 1 in. per hour
More detailed information about the weather: 

 

 

Activity: 
Skiing
Precip Rate: 
S2; moderate snowfall, 2cm/hour
High Temp. (C): 
-2