The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Avalancheinfo · Dec 30, 2016 · Flathead
Quick report
- Weather
- stormy, windy
- Ride Type
- denseTrees, mellowSlopes
- Stayed Away
- alpineSlopes, convexSlopes, steepSlopes
- Riding Quality
- amazing
- Snow Conditions
- deepPowder, windAffected
- Avalanche Conditions
- avalancheConditionSlab, avalancheConditionSnow
Snowmobile AST1 course up the North and South Rain Gauge: numerous recent sz 1-2 slab avalanches visible in alpine terrain. Various CTH resistant planar results in the 50-80cm down range at alpine/treeline transition zone. Strong winds and crossloading as soon as you get out of the trees. 20cm new snow through the day. Heavy sled traffic in alpine fans over last few days. Excellent blower pow sledding at lower elevations and in trees.
Weather
- Avg Temp
- -9
- Wind Speed
- windSpeedStrong
- Blowing Snow
- moderate
- Sky Condition
- overcast
- Snowfall Rate
- 2
- New Snow24 Hours
- 20
- Temperature Trend
- steady
- Precipitation Type
- snow
- Precipitation24 Hours
- 20
Strong winds in alpine and alpine/treeline transition zone - visible wind transport and cross loading on alpine slopes, some large cornices visible. Foot/sled pen at back of South Rain Gauge 5cm styro-foamy sounding - dramatically different than 30cm of blower pow in the trees.
Snowpack
- Depth
- 225
- Obs Type
- summary
- Site Aspect
- S, SW
- Test Fracture
- resistant
- Site Elevation
- 2025
- Test Initiation
- hard
- Foot Penetration
- 30
- Sled Penetration
- 15
- Test Failure Depth
- 80
- Site Elevation Band
- tln
- Surface Conditions
- newSnow
- Test Failure Layer Crystal Types
- facets
Sled AST1 Course, numerous study sites all with similar findings. HS 225cm. 25 degree slopes at alpine/treeline transition zone. Very wind affected. 20cm new snow through the day. Noteable CTH's with resistant planar results spread between the 50-80cm down level on facets. Bottom of snowpack is very well bonded. Ice layer still present at bottom. No result on extended column test.
Avalanche
- Trigger Type
- natural
- Wind Exposure
- crossLoadedSlope
- Avalanche Size
- 2
- Start Zone Aspect
- N, S
- Vegetation Cover
- openSlope
- Avalanche Character
- windSlab
- Number Of Avalanches
- 2-5
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2200
- Avalanche Observation
- 12to24hrsAgo
- Start Zone Elevation Band
- alp
- Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
- 2016-12-29T13:00:00
Numerous size 1-2 slab avalanches visible in both the North and South Rain Gauge (North and South aspects of both bowls) in steep, wind loaded, alpine terrain. Poor visibility.