24-25

Touring in Bradley Meadow

Date
Activity
Skiing

3x ECTX on NE facing 7,400ft. 15cm of new storm snow. Moderate SW winds with strong gusts. S2 from 11am -1pm, S1 snowfall beginning as we exited the field (1530). Blowing snow observed throughout the day. 

Region
Bridger Range
Location (from list)
Bradley Meadow
Observer Name
MSU Avalanche Instructor Team

Wind slab avalanche on Two Top

Date
Activity
Snowmobiling

A wind slab avalanche was seen just below Two Top. This appeared to be a natural slide although tracks can be seen above and to the left of the crown. This was on a northeast facing slope that was wind loaded. The avalanche appeared to be fresh after recent snow. 

Region
Out of Advisory Area
Location (from list)
Two Top
Observer Name
Carrie Barnhart

Lower Hayden Creek Obs

Date
Activity
Skiing

A few dry loose avalanches on Climax, plus two small crowns. One was older and drifted in. The other was a small, recent wind slab.

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Hayden Creek
Observer Name
Beartooth Powder Guides

Mount Zimmer Yurt Obs

Date
Activity
Skiing

Overnight it snowed 8 inches of low density at the yurt, and an additional 3 inches today. 
No avalanches or cr, co observed. Wind loading observed multiple aspects NTL. 

 

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Mt. Zimmer
Observer Name
Beartooth Powder Guides

Storm Slab Avalanche on Mt Blackmore

Mt Blackmore
Northern Gallatin
Code
SS-N-R2-D2
Elevation
8700
Aspect
N
Latitude
45.44680
Longitude
-110.98900
Notes

From obs: "Probably already reported...but touchy storm slabs on Mt Blackmore. Attached is a photo of a natural from the approach, at the switchbacks to the upper basin."

From obs: Saw a fairly large (could bury a person) slide while heading up to ski on mt Blackmore. It was on a north aspect at around 8700 ft. It seemed to have failed in the recent storm snow, some wind may have made the slab a little thicker. The debris covered a portion of yesterday’s ski track. Higher in the bowl we found unstable snow around ridge lines, with several small loose sluffs coming down."

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
2
D size
2
Problem Type
New Snow
Slab Thickness
12.0 inches
Vertical Fall
300ft
Slab Width
150.00ft
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Probably already reported...but touchy storm slabs on Mt Blackmore. Attached is a photo of a natural from the approach, at the switchbacks to the upper basin.

Photo: Anonymous

Northern Gallatin, 2025-01-11

Touchy storm slabs on Blackmore

Date
Activity
Skiing

Probably already reported...but touchy storm slabs on Mt Blackmore. Attached is a photo of a natural from the approach, at the switchbacks to the upper basin.

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Mt Blackmore

Touchy storm snow

Date
Activity
Skiing

Saw a fairly large (could bury a person) slide while heading up to ski on mt Blackmore. It was on a north aspect at around 8700 ft. It seemed to have failed in the recent storm snow, some wind may have made the slab a little thicker. The debris covered a portion of yesterday’s ski track. Higher in the bowl we found unstable snow around ridge lines, with several small loose sluffs coming down. 

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Mt Blackmore
Observer Name
Jay Alford

Wind, snow, ECTPs in Bradley's

Date
Activity
Skiing

Was out with an avalanche class today, strong, swirling mid mountain winds and boottop new snow. 

Our group got a small test slope to slide a small pocket of recent wind slab, then dug on an ENE aspect near the top of Bradley's HS 200cm, ETCP28 on that same fresh windslab down 25cm. That area was heavily wind effected from earlier this week. 

Around the corner on a more scoured ESE aspect HS 80-90cm the snowpack had 2-3mm wet facets at the ground, ECTP24 10cm off the ground failing in facets. 

Skiing was variable, but much improved from yesterday's breakable wind crust!

Region
Bridger Range
Location (from list)
Bradley Meadow
Observer Name
S Regan

GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Jan 11, 2025

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>It is snowing and blowing, and there are weak layers low in the snowpack. This is the perfect recipe for </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>dangerous avalanche conditions</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slab avalanches </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>will be very easily triggered on slopes loading by the strong winds. In general, expect these slides to break 1-3 ft deep, but they could break even deeper on particularly loaded slopes. Wind Slabs were already seen breaking naturally yesterday (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33472"><span><span><span><span><span><… and photos</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>) and winds were drifting snow on low elevation slopes that are often untouched by the wind. With more wind and snow, wind slabs will break deeper and be even more easily triggered today.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Will today’s loading be what it takes to see widespread </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Persistent Slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>? Honestly, I’m not sure - but I do know that it makes me very nervous. Slides breaking on the weak layers in the lower snowpack would be big and destructive. During a big loading event is not the time to test your luck with these weak layers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Don’t try to outsmart the avalanche hazard today - simply avoid all slopes steeper than 30 degrees and the runouts beneath those slopes as well.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>There is some uncertainty in how heavy the snowfall will be today. If the new snow really piles up and the intensity of snowfall spikes we could see dangerous</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span> Storm Slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> in places untouched by the wind..&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Triggering avalanches is LIKELY and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Winds have picked up near West Yellowstone, Island Park and Cooke City too, but less new snow has fallen and little more is expected today. This means that wind loaded slopes are the dominant concern in these areas. You could trigger either </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> breaking within the recently drifted snow or </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Persistent Slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> breaking on the weak layers lower in the snowpack. Recent avalanches breaking 4-6 ft deep on the weak layers near the ground on Mt. Abundance (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/25/fresh-persistent-slab-south-mt-ab…;) and Henderson Mtn. (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/25/persistent-slab-above-henderson-b…;), demonstrate how powerful these slides can be. Slopes without wind affect aren’t 100% risk free, but they won’t have wind slabs to break and the weak layers near the ground have now gotten a decent break from loading, so they are a much safer option.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Cautious route finding is key today. Search out smaller, sheltered slopes untouched by the wind (where the riding should be better anyways) or keep it even simpler by sticking to slopes less than 30 degrees steep.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on windloaded slopes and MODERATE on all other slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events

Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out: Events and Education Calendar