Trip Planning for Northern Madison

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

From IG 1/3: “Buck ridge today. NE aspect. Probably 100’ wide and at least 3’ deep. Looked like it was triggered by a snowmobiler earlier in the day.” Photo: P Rockwell

From IG 1/3: “Buck ridge today. NE aspect. Probably 100’ wide and at least 3’ deep. Looked like it was triggered by a snowmobiler earlier in the day.” Photo: P Rockwell

Triggered slide in Beaver Creek 1 Jan 2024

Found a bigger pocket that had pulled out on steeper terrain in the 1st Yellow Mule no tracks around since we were the first in there. Photo: Anonymous 

Found a bigger pocket that had pulled out on steeper terrain in the 1st Yellow Mule no tracks around since we were the first in there. Photo: Anonymous 

Noticed a small 8-10” wind slab pocket on the way in, looked like storm load but could have been sled triggered from the top. Photo: Anonymous 

Noticed a small 8-10” wind slab pocket on the way in, looked like storm load but could have been sled triggered from the top. Photo: Anonymous 

Small avalanche NE aspect near top of beaver. D1 natural trigger wind slab. Only observed avalanche from groomer trail. Photo: Z Bailey

It only took 20 minutes of skinning before we triggered a small avalanche in a terrain trap from a flat bench above. This slide (R3 D1) broke 150' wide, about a foot deep, and filled the creek bed below. Photo: GNFAC

It only took 20 minutes of skinning before we triggered a small avalanche in a terrain trap from a flat bench above. This slide (R3 D1) broke 150' wide, about a foot deep, and filled the creek bed below. Photo: GNFAC

It only took 20 minutes of skinning before we triggered a small avalanche in a terrain trap from a flat bench above. This slide (R3 D1) broke 150' wide, about a foot deep, and filled the creek bed below. Photo: GNFAC

Small slide in terrain trap. Looks to be old, likely from before the wind event that occurred mid last week. A snowmobile track leads into it with wind-drifted snow covering the track. Photo: L Welles

 We triggered a 12" soft wind slab on a NE facing slope at 9,5k'. Photo: J Gerardi

Photo: J Aid

Middle Basin ECT

Middle Basin Snowpit

Tyler's snowpit 

Small natural windslab along Beehive Ridgeline around noon on 12/18. It broke up to around a foot deep, 20 ft wide, and ran about 15 vertical feet. Photo: GNFAC.

Plumes of drifting snow in the Bridger Range as strong winds blasted the mountains. Photo: GNFAC

Snowmobilers triggered a small avalanche in Slats Canyon at Buck Ridge on Sunday. Photo: anonymous

A natural storm slab avalanche in 3rd Yellowmule (~100 ft wide and ran ~200 vertical ft). Broke either 12/16 or early morning 12/17. Photo taken 12/17/24. Photo: GNFAC

A natural storm slab avalanche on the far (southwest) side of Buck Creek - broke 2-300 ft wide and ran ~500 vertical feet. Photo taken 12/17/24. Photo: GNFAC

Looking down the gully at part of the remotely triggered avalanche in Bear Creek. Triggered on 12/17/24. Photo: GNFAC

Looking across the gully at part the remotely triggered avalanche in Bear Creek. Triggered on 12/17/24. Photo: GNFAC

Part of the crown of the remotely triggered avalanche in Bear Creek. Triggered on 12/17/24. Photo: GNFAC

From IG: On 12/15 "Storm slab broke about 200’ above us as skinning up the hallway coming from the north side on the throne." Photo: Anonymous

While skinning back up to the Beehive/Middle ridge we remotely triggered 12 inches of storm snow on a SE facing gully from 15 ft away, the crown was ~50 ft long. ~8,200 ft. Photo: J Nadison

When skiing into middle basin, I stopped at the top of a convex roller and had cracks shooting out 50 feet in either direction from what seemed to be a soft slab in the new snow that slid about a foot or so. 

Photo: S Lipsteuer

When skiing into middle basin, I stopped at the top of a convex roller and had cracks shooting out 50 feet in either direction from what seemed to be a soft slab in the new snow that slid a foot or so. 

Photo: S Lipsteuer

Gusty winds transporting snow in Taylor Fork on Saturday. Triggered a 4-5 inch deep wind slab that propagated about 50 ft at the top of a north east facing slope at 9,500 ft.

Photo: JP

Photo: H Darby

Photo: H Darby

Photo: H Darby

Photo: H Darby

A small loose-wet avalanche on a S facing aspect on Eglise Rock was observed that likely broke in the last day or two. Photo: GNFAC 12/4/2024

The head of Beaver Creek was scoured nearly to dirt and the cornice is quite large there already.  We noted one small wind slab avalanche just below it.  We found a similar avalanche in Second Yellowmule that again appeared to be from wind loading.  Both appeared to be several days old. Photo: USFS Bozeman Snow Rangers