Big whumph as we stepped up onto the lower meadow to dig a practice pit. Pit was about 75cm deep, NE aspect, looking toward Trail Creek Road. CT12, 3cm from the ground, ECTP 16 on that same weak layer of facets just above the ground.
Toured up into Blackmore basin this afternoon and skied the SE Shoulder. Moderate winds from the north were transporting some snow, but I was surprised by how calm it was up there. Small cornices had built up on the shoulder. S-1 snowfall beginning at 2pm and increasing as I skied out. The coverage is amazing - nearly tree skiable in the forest and HS on the shoulder around 9650' was 160cm. Top 100cm was F-1F hardness; bottom 60cm were weaker, faceted grains. I saw no cracking or collapsing.
The one thing of note was a recent avalanche on the north face of Blackmore. Visibility was poor but it was a small pocket in a steep, rocky zone that broke near the ground.
Many ridgelines had been scoured down to the grass from yesterday's winds. HS was around 100cm around 8k feet and significantly shallower at lower elevations. New snow totals from the past couple of days was around 20-30cm. We experienced a remarkable number of thunderous collapses throughout the day (I lost count), one of which triggered an avalanche into Specimen Creek while we were in the flats.
We experienced a remarkable number of thunderous collapses throughout the day (I lost count), one of which triggered an avalanche into Specimen Creek while we were in the flats. Photo: R Parsons
Here are some observations from our tour in Specimen Creek this morning.
Winds remained steady throughout the day and were blowing from the southern half of the compass. Many ridgelines had been scoured down to the grass from yesterday's winds. HS was around 100cm around 8k feet and significantly shallower at lower elevations. New snow totals from the past couple of days was around 20-30cm. We experienced a remarkable number of thunderous collapses throughout the day (I lost count), one of which triggered an avalanche into Specimen Creek while we were in the flats. See attached photo.
I'd give this area a few more good storms before the touring is worth it back there. Lots of tree-dodging!
Pit 2
44.95982, -111.09903
100cm snow depth
ECTP17. Failed on faceted layer 30cm above the ground.
sugary fist snow 20-30cm above the ground; somewhat consolidated 4F storm slab 30-60cm; powder fist snow 60-95cm
Photo: R Cocco
Toured up northwest of the bacon rind trailhead to the ridge. Did two pits, both with similar failures on the buried weak layer during ECT.
Pit 1
44.96190, -111.08941
95cm snow depth ECTN21. Failed on faceted snow that existed 23-35cm above the ground.
Photo:R Cocco
Skied above hebgen today, and conditions were similar to what they were a couple days ago. An east facing pit at 8700’ had 85 cm of snow and failed on facets near the ground at ECTP 16. I ski cut a steeper slope and got no result, but my larger-volume partner was able to trigger a slide that broke 40-50’ wide and ran to the ground and through some trees. This was immediately adjacent to the fresh tracks of a very fortuitous skier and their pooch. Subjectively, it seemed like the basal facets had a bit more moisture in them today, but they are not strong yet.
Today, during a level 1 avalanche course north of Cooke City, we did a total of 7 ECTs north of Companion Lake. We did 4 ECTs at 9640ft, two on a NW aspect and two on a SE aspect. These were all ECTNs in the mid 20s. We did 3 more ECTs on a north facing slope at 9380ft. Here we got two ECTXs and one ECTN 25. The buried surface hoar layer from early December was visible in every pit, ranging from 90 cm to 105 cm deep. The deepest snow we found was 185cm.
Toured up northwest of the bacon rind trailhead to the ridge. Did two pits, both with similar failures on the buried weak layer during ECT. Pleasant skiing in low angle terrain. Roller balls made an appearance down low @ 7400”.
Pit 1
44.96190, -111.08941
95cm snow depth ECTN21. Failed on faceted snow that existed 23-35cm above the ground.
Pit 2
44.95982, -111.09903
100cm snow depth
ECTP17. Failed on faceted layer 30cm above the ground.
sugary fist snow 20-30cm above the ground; somewhat consolidated 4F storm slab 30-60cm; powder fist snow 60-95cm
