Cold temps and sunny days starting to create some surface hoar forming seen on the primary ridge of big Ellis. Surface hoar was less widely distributed on the primary ski zone but was present all along the top of the ridge. Photo: K Gordon
Cold temps and sunny days starting to create some surface hoar forming seen on the primary ridge of big Ellis. Surface hoar was less widely distributed on the primary ski zone but was present all along the top of the ridge.
<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Cold is probably the biggest threat today</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> making any injury life-threatening if you can’t get back to the trailhead quickly. Be careful. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In terms of avalanches, it’s not too dangerous but there are a few things to look out for in specific places:</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> When are these not a concern? Downhill winds in the Bridgers yesterday and possibly today may have moved some snow and formed fresh wind slabs that will be the most sensitive. In all other areas, it’s been about 48 hours since winds were moving snow and wind slabs are less likely to be triggered. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Persistent slab avalanches:</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> These types of slides have become almost unlikely. The snow surface weakened in late January and was buried about 12 days ago with about 1-3 feet of snow on top now. Places to especially look for and assess this layer are the southern Madison Range, southern Gallatin Range, and the </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/snow-observations-list"><span><span><span><… area</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>. Also, look for this layer OR any weak facets in out-of-the way places that don’t have enough snow to ride in most winters but do have enough now. Read </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34109"><span><span><span><span><span><…’s ob</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> on this topic and </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34118"><span><span><span><span><span><… example from the northern Gallatin Range</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> at 6400’ in elevation.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out: Events and Education Calendar
I toured Big Creek today in the southern Paradise Valley, taking Donahue Creek trail up off of Big Creek to ski the low angle meadows above. The west face of the first meadow was fairly wind loaded and approximately 80cm deep.
The snowpack appeared to be approximately 20cm of soft powder over 30cm of a wind slab, all sitting on top of another 30cm of fairly loose, course, facets.
I conducted a compression test, and had a failure at 17 taps where the wind slab collapsed on the loose snow below. I did an extended column next, and recorded a score of ECT16P, with the failure propagating below the top layer of powder within the slab on the facets.
Prior to filling in the pits, I jumped on my skis approximately 4 feet upslope of them, and the second jump caused the snowpack on the back of the pit to collapse when the slab slid.
Saw what looked to be a small wind slab or cornice fall on South Siren in Republic Creek. SE facing, 10100 ft. Photo: BPG
Went into the beehive area today to do a bigger jaunt into the alpine and make it around the basins. Dug at 9200’ on an E aspect on the Beehive/Middle ridge and ripped two ECTs. First test result was ECTN12 on the dust layer. Second test yielded an ECTX. We went ahead with our plan to ski some fairly steep terrain throughout the basins, taking it slow, and making surface and visual observations throughout our day confirming our plan. Most of the surface snow was minimally wind affected and skied great. We saw only small sluffs on anything we could see (no slab avalanches). There was some small shooting cracks while setting skinners, but nothing especially concerning. There was evidence of a stubborn older wind slab underneath the newest snow on one of our lines. Overall, great day!
Went skiing south of Cooke City today near Hayden Creek. No avalanches seen and no signs of instability. Cold temps and light winds from the NW and W all day.
