Observation Date: 11/28/2019

Route/Location:
St. Mary’s Peak, Central Bitterroot

Weather:
11* at trailhead on arrival ~11am. 7* at trailhead on departure ~5pm. Significant wind chill. Light wind until later afternoon when winds increased enough to transport snow in the upper elevations. Cloudy skies clearing in the late afternoon. No precip.

Wind:
Enough wind by late afternoon to transport and windpack snow (i.e. slab development).

New Snow: 3-6″

Avalanche Activity:
No recent avalanches or red flags.

Other Comments:
No base below ~7100′ (only 3″ new snow over ground). Between 7100-8000′ there is old snow and a melt-freeze crust (in places) that provides a supportable base (3-6″ new snow at surface), but still a lot of rocks and vegetation to hit while descending. Above ~8000′ there’s up to 3.5′ on leeward terrain to nothing on windward terrain (some swaths provide good linked turns). See photos for further information.

Observer: Mat Brunton