Trip Planning for Northern Madison

as of 5:00 am
Today2″ | 6-9 SW
Apr 2 3″ | 12-17 SE
Apr 1 6″ | 15-45 SW
9400′     4/03 at 20:00
17 ℉
SE - 11 mph, Gusts 15
0 " New
8880′     04/03 at 19:00
19℉
61″ Depth
Primary Problem: Wind Slab
Bottom Line: Be on the lookout for isolated places where winds have drifted snow and you could trigger a soft wind slab. Be especially cautious in terrain where simply falling could be dangerous. A tragic accident ten years ago in April on Beehive Peak is worth reading about and learning from.

Past 5 Days

Sun Mar 30

Moderate
Mon Mar 31

Moderate
Tue Apr 1

Moderate
Wed Apr 2

Moderate
Today

Low

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Northern Madison
Bear Basin
Beehive/Bear Obs
Incident details include images
Bear Basin
SS-ASu-R1-D1.5-S
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.3453, -111.3750
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Skied around Beehive Basin today; there was lots of new snow and very little wind effect. Skied into the top of Bear Basin from Beehive by going up going home and down the east side, right-side-up powder skiing. While descending Island Boy into the South Fork of Spanish Creek, we had similar 60-100 cm of right-side-up new snow on a heavily textured melt-freeze layer of old snow. Felt the snow density stiffen up from light low density snow around 300 meters down the ski line so cut to the left into a safe zone, the slope at the my skis broke about 15-20 meters wide and 15 cm deep at the flanks to 40cm deep in the gut, SS-ASu-R1-D1.5-I-M(L)-TK. About 30 meters downhill, the slab rode up onto the new snow and ran out of momentum before reaching the runout. Right where the slope broke, we had wind wrapping around the north ridge cross-loading the couloir (skiers left to right), downslope, and on skiers' right of the line, there was no evidence of wind transport. Skied the rest of the line and looped back into Beehive with no other excitement. 


More Avalanche Details
Northern Madison
Beehive Basin
Point releases, wet loose in Beehive/Middle Basin
Beehive Basin
WL-N-R1-D1.5
Coordinates: 45.3407, -111.3910
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Toured around Beehive and Middle Basins this morning, finding predictably bulletproof snow on most aspects but decent turns aided by the 2-4 inches of snow from last night on northerly terrain that hadn’t been destroyed by the sun this week. There were a few brief moments of direct sun throughout the morning, which almost instantaneously triggered point releases from steeper rocky terrain. On the way back through Beehive we observed some much larger debris piles that weren’t there this morning from the steel rocky face between the Going Home chute and the prayer flags. 


More Avalanche Details
Northern Madison
Gallatin Canyon
Wet slides in Gallatin Canyon
Incident details include images
Gallatin Canyon
WL-N-R2-D2
Aspect: S
Coordinates: 45.3690, -111.1750
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

In Gallatin Canyon we saw some wet slides in the chutes/gullies south of Lava Lake


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • The slope at the my skis broke about 15-20 meters wide and 15 cm deep at the flanks to 40cm deep in the gut, SS-ASu-R1-D1.5-I-M(L)-TK. About 30 meters downhill, the slab rode up onto the new snow and ran out of momentum before reaching the runout. Photo: J Negri

  • In Gallatin Canyon we saw some wet slides in the chutes/gullies south of Lava Lake. Photo: USFS Snow Rangers

  • Understanding Avalanche Safety Preparedness – 5-Minute Survey for Motorized Users

    We need your input! Eastern Oregon University is conducting a survey to better understand avalanche safety preparedness among motorized backcountry users like you. Your feedback will help us learn more about who is purchasing and practicing with avalanche rescue gear (beacon, probe, shovel) and participating in avalanche education—and why some riders aren’t.  The survey is confidential and anonymous.  

    Your feedback is invaluable in improving avalanche education and awareness. Please take a moment to share your experience and help us make a difference.

    https://eoustmhs.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3L8QKAuZzcxJBLo

    Thank you for your time and for being a part of this important effort!

  • On Mar 22 There was a small wind slab avalanche in McAtee (Photo) and a small wind slab in Beaver Creek. Photo: GNFAC

  • We triggered two small and shallow wind slabs that didn't go anywhere, but they were a warning of bigger wind slabs on bigger slopes

     

  • We triggerd two small and shallow wind slabs that didn't go anywhere but were a warning of what you could find on bigger slopes. 

     

  • Came across a old slide in the hell roaring drainage heading towards Gallatin.  East facing. Happened sometime before the recent snow but not long ago. Initial crown seemed to be 12-18 inches and stepped down further down the slope. Was a fairly large debris pile. Photo: S Knowles

     

  • Old Avalanche spotted from Wilson yesterday looking  North. Possible cornice fall trigger during the warm up but difficult to tell as it was quite a ways away.  Photo attached. Photo: Anonymous

  • PWL avalanche (R3-D2), east-facing, deep in Muddy Creek. This was drifted in and likely broke around 2.5 weeks ago during the last significant storm cycle. Photo: GNFAC

  • We dug a snowpit near the lower flank of the avalanche path and noted that these weak layers had gained strength over time. We did get propagation on a stout melt-freeze crust near the surface (ECTP5) but did not get propagation lower down on faceted grains. Photo: GNFAC

  • We saw a small north-facing avalanche in the First Yellow Mule (R1-D1) that was snowmobile triggered. It looked to be around a week old. Photo: GNFAC

  • Natural point release avalanche observed from the YC. Occurred out of bounds on the South side of Pioneer Mountain. Photo: YC Ski Patrol

  • From obs.: "Saw a recent cornice triggered wind slab off of Hardscrabble Peak, crown looked fairly fresh. There was a second crown line below the rock band. Conditions were very windy, with snow still being transported. Most snow surfaces were wind affected, but saw no cracking or collapsing." Photo: F. Miller

  • Cracking in the new and wind-drifted snow on the Ridge of Middle Basin. These resulted in a narrow avalanche that ran quite far. 

  • Photo: GNFAC

  • Buck Ridge, snowmobile triggered avalanche. Propagated in the storm slab. Photo: C Erhard

  • Swift Current lift shut down all day Wednesday 2/5/25 by ski patrol

  • On the headwall of the Second Yellow Mule, we saw two recent wind slab avalanches. These were small (R1 D1), immediately below the ridge, and likely broke late last night or this morning. Photo: GNFAC

  • On the headwall of the Second Yellow Mule, we saw two recent wind slab avalanches. These were small (R1 D1), immediately below the ridge, and likely broke late last night or this morning. Photo: GNFAC

  • Strong winds blew all day from the SW, sustaining 30mph at ridgelines. Snow was actively transported all day by winds, and plumes were visible on far away ridgelines and summits. Photo: GNFAC

  • This slab from my ski cut was about 20” deep and 60’ wide. It’s NE facing so pretty wind blown. Photo: S Budac

  • Cracking and isolated pockets of wind slab in Beehive. 

  • Human triggered release of cornice overhang near the weather station on Buck Ridge. Recent activity next to the small release. Crown 1-2’ deep, 40’ run, 75’ across running over the tracks riding underneath in the recent wind transported slab.

  • We also spotted a small, snowmobile triggered avalanche on a steep, east facing slope in Muddy Creek.  Photo: USFS Snow Rangers 

  • Saw this cool illustration of wind deposition, scouring and unaffected snow on a ridge line near the top of Bear Creek at the far end of Buck Ridge. Photo: USFS Snow Rangers 

  • Photo: M R

  • The surface evolved throughout the day, so we must continue tracking its progression. We found surface hoar in the valley of Beehive, where inverted temperatures were the coldest, crusts with near-surface facets below, and some straight near-surface facet—recycled powder, along with thicker crust and wet snow. Photo: GNFAC

  • The surface evolved throughout the day, so we must continue tracking its progression. We found surface hoar in the valley of Beehive, where inverted temperatures were the coldest, crusts with near-surface facets below, and some straight near-surface facet—recycled powder, along with thicker crust and wet snow. Photo: GNFAC

  • Recent avalanches noted on the NE-E aprons on cedar mountain. SS-N-R2-3-D2-I These appeared to have possibly happened during the last storm cycle and looked to be isolated to layers within the new old snow interface. I also noted similar activity on the same aspects on the adjacent ridge during our approach.  

  • Recent avalanches noted on the NE-E aprons on cedar mountain. SS-N-R2-3-D2-I These appeared to have possibly happened during the last storm cycle and looked to be isolated to layers within the new old snow interface. I also noted similar activity on the same aspects on the adjacent ridge during our approach.  

  • Jan 24, Buck Ridge... We dug on an E facing slope at 9,400'. Snow depth was 155cm (5 feet) and we had an ECTN12 on the surface hoar layer 10" down. Photo GNFAC

  • Large wind transport in Spanish peaks. Photo: T Blakeway

  • Surface hoar was on the snow surface today. It likely wont' survive to be buried. Sunshine on south aspects was already destroying it.

  • Snowpit and ECT result from small slope just above Beehive Creek at 8200 ft. 

  • Facets in thinner snowpack areas are larger, weaker, and could possibly cause an avalnache

  • Snowpit from the top of Tyler's slope in Beehive Basin, W facing, 9200 ft. This is representative of an area with thin snow that is weaker

  • On Tuesday, January 19, 2016, a Yellowstone Club (YC) Ski Patroller triggered an avalanche on a wind-loaded slope which released on his second turn. The slide broke 2-4 feet deep, 300 feet wide and carried him through a terrain trap of thick trees. He was partially buried 300 vertical feet below in the toe of the debris. His partners reached him within three minutes, but the trauma was fatal.

    The YCSP created a non-profit to remember their colleague and friend, Darren Johnson. And, to support ski patrollers across the country by providing scholarships for avalanche education and attendance at the National Avalanche School. 

  • The Yellowstone Club Ski Patrol noted multiple large avalanches on different bowls and aspects of Cedar Mountain at approximately 9400 feet elevation. Photo: YCSP

  • The Yellowstone Club Ski Patrol noted multiple large avalanches on different bowls and aspects of Cedar Mountain at approximately 9400 feet elevation. Photo: YCSP

Videos- Northern Madison

WebCams


8800' Camera, Lone Peak view

Yellowstone Club, Timberline Chair

Snowpit Profiles- Northern Madison

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Forecast Northern Madison

Extended Forecast for

5 Miles NNW Big Sky MT

Winter Weather Advisory April 3, 08:32pm until April 4, 03:00amClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Weather Advisory
  •   Winter Weather Advisory April 3, 08:32pm until April 4, 03:00am

    NOW until 3:00am Fri

    Winter Weather Advisory

  • Tonight

    Low: 8 °F

    Snow

  • Friday

    Friday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 21. Wind chill values as low as -5. North wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

    High: 21 °F

    Decreasing
    Clouds

  • Friday Night

    Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 8. Wind chill values as low as zero. North wind 6 to 11 mph becoming south after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.

    Low: 8 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 35. Wind chill values as low as -5. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph.

    High: 35 °F

    Sunny

  • Saturday Night

    Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 19. South southwest wind around 9 mph.

    Low: 19 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Sunday

    Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 40. West wind around 10 mph.

    High: 40 °F

    Sunny

  • Sunday Night

    Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25. South wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

    Low: 25 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Monday

    Monday: A slight chance of snow after noon.  Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. South wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

    High: 41 °F

    Mostly Sunny
    then Slight
    Chance Snow

The Last Word

Hyalite Road Closure 

The Hyalite Canyon Road is closed to ALL MOTORIZED VEHICLES until the morning of May 16. This is a regular annual road closure to reduce road damage during the spring thaw. Bicycle and foot traffic are allowed. Contact the Bozeman FS Ranger District for more info.

04 / 2 / 25  <<  
 
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