Avalanches triggered in Canyon Creek area

Forecasters are warning backcountry travelers of high avalanche danger in the mountains of Glacier National Park and the Flathead National Forest. Two skier-triggered avalanches were reported last week just outside Whitefish Mountain Resort.

The Glacier Country Avalanche Center reports recent slide activity is caused by wet snow that fell last week and by wind loading. The new snow is on top of a less dense and shallow snowpack. Avalanches were reportedly ripping loose at 2-3 feet deep, and sometimes down to bear grass.

About 20 inches of new snow fell in the upper elevations of the Whitefish Range last week. High winds were also reported. The National Weather Service says a 119 mph wind gust was recorded at 4 a.m. on Dec. 29 by a wind gauge on the top of the visitor center at Logan Pass in Glacier Park.

In the Skookoleel Mountain area northeast of Big Mountain, a soft-slab avalanche was triggered Dec. 26 by a skier kicking a cornice block onto a wind-loaded slope, avalanche forecaster Joe Grabowski reported.

On Dec. 28, an avalanche was reported by skiers near a route skiers typically use to return to the resort from the Canyon Creek area. That slide covered a skin track set earlier in the day.

The same group then toured Goolie Point, the ridge south of Flower Point, and triggered an avalanche on a steep slope by jumping on the ridge.