Multiple pits yielded propagation in ECTs for a group in Beehive Basin on Saturday. Photo: E. Stutzman
Trip Planning for Northern Gallatin
Past 5 Days
Low
Low
Low
Low
Considerable
Relevant Avalanche Activity
HS-ASc-R1-D1-I
Elevation: 9,900
Aspect: N
Coordinates: 45.4444, -111.0040
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
From obs: "Intentionally triggered on a ski cut. Broke about 1 foot deep and 10 feet wide, ran on a hard compact surface below the soft wind slab."
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L-N-R1-D1-S
Elevation: 9,500
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.4444, -111.0040
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
Dave and I toured into Blackmore basin today and skinned up the SE shoulder to the ridge. As we entered the basin, we immediately noticed several natural loose snow avalanches (R1 D1) in steep rocky sections of the direct E face. These looked to have occurred in the last 12 hours, and though they would not have buried someone, they would have strained one through some nasty trees and cliffs.
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WL-N-R1-D1.5-U
Elevation: 7,900
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
From obs: "With the inversion and warmer temperatures yesterday, we (group of 3) discovered a super saturated, cohesive snowpack in Hyalite on the approach to High Fidelity. On the first pitch, I narrowly avoided a point release wet loose, probably around D1-1.5. After this we decided to bail. On the rappel, my partner narrowly avoided another wet loose, which he estimated to be D1.5 and deep enough to bury a person past their chest. The sun was not out but the mountains were shedding and there was evidence of warming and wind, because the trees had no snow on them. We were able to make ~2.5 feet in diameter “cinnamon rolls” by rolling a snowball downhill. If you’re going to any of the more exposed climbs in Hyalite, be very mindful of overhead hazards and wet loose problems which you would not expect this time of year."
More Avalanche Details
Relevant Photos
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"Intentionally triggered on a ski cut. Broke about 1 foot deep and 10 feet wide, ran on a hard compact surface below the soft wind slab. " Photo: Anonymous
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We noticed several natural loose snow avalanches (R1 D1) in steep rocky sections of the direct E face of Mt Blackmore. Though they were not large enough to bury someone, they would have strained a skier or rider through some nasty trees and cliffs. Photo: GNFAC
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WE facing snow at 8100 ft Cabin Ck
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SE facing snow Cabin Creek
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N facing snow Cabin Creek, 9000 ft
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Big Sky Ski Patrol triggered this avalanche during mitigation work in The Wave on 11/26/24... "2-3' deep on an ice crust just above the ground with a 2# shot in the Upper rodeo. Volume was limited as most of the snow was loaded just underneath the cornice, but still produced a sizeable size 2... Other paths in the Lenin region ran meaty wind slabs, full track with no significant step downs." Photo: BSSP
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Cracking on old, faceted, October snow hundreds of feet long. North facing near treeline. Photo: BSSP
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Intentional, human-triggered avalanche by a ski patrol breaking at the ground on a north facing slope near treeline. Photo: BSSP
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Photo: A.A.
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Photo: A.A.
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Photo: A.A.
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A 12" deep snowpack at History Rock. 11/14/24. Photo: GNFAC
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Snow and dirt at History Rock on November 14, 2024. Photo: GNFAC
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From obs: "Toured up into the Blackmore/Elephant basin today to get a sense of the snowpack ahead of the upcoming storm cycle. I poked around and dug in a few spots, trying to observe variations in snow depth and to observe where the snow has been faceting. Every pit I dug, ranging from N to SE facing, had faceting near the ground, all of which reacted in stability tests, if stubbornly. The most interesting test result was an ECTP21 in this layer of basal facets. That pit was dug in a large wind drift. I saw no propagation in any other pit or test.
Strong wind gusts were moving large amounts of snow in the alpine, while below treeline they did not exceed moderate speeds and wind transport was non existent. Large drifts were present on lee slopes, while more exposed windward slopes had little to no snow.
Otherwise the snowpack has behaved as one would expect. Solar aspects and exposed flats have a 2-3cm thick sun crust on the surface, and a further complex of crusts throughout the shallow snow pack. Snow depth ranged from 0 - 100 cm throughout the basin, and was generally thinner on solar aspects. Pretty bad skiing all around, not excluding the rock gardens on the skinner out." Photo: W. Hubbard
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Snowpit at Bridger Bowl on 11/5. Photo: B. VandenBos
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From e-mail: "Photo attached from near top of hyalite peak, 11/2. Cracking in recent hard wind slab, I had to really jump hard to make this. Walked on many other hard slabs that were well bonded. Highly variable snowpack. I think you'd be most likely to get into trouble by popping out a small hard slab pocket like this and getting magic carpeted into some thinly covered terrain." Photo: B. VandenBos
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An intense period of snowfall on October 28 dropped 6” of snow in the Hyalite Canyon area. Photo: GNFAC
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From obs: "1-3 mm faceting in front of the Montage. Clear skys and mid 20 temps"
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A hiker on Mt. Blackmore noted 5-10 inches of snow on east through north aspects. Photo: B. VandenBos
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A hiker on Mt. Blackmore noted 5-10 inches of snow on east through north aspects. Photo: B. VandenBos
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On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Yellowstone Club Webcam
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On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Bridger Bowl Webcams
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The 26th annual fundraiser for the Friends of the GNFAC is October 25 at the Emerson Cultural Center. More info and tickets at: https://events.eventgroove.com/event/Powder-Blast-2024-101627
Videos- Northern Gallatin
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Bozeman Pass, Looking SE
Weather Stations- Northern Gallatin
Weather Forecast Northern Gallatin
Extended Forecast for14 Miles SE Gallatin Gateway MT
Winter Weather Advisory December 9, 10:30am until December 9, 05:00pmClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Weather Advisory-
Winter Weather Advisory December 9, 10:30am until December 9, 05:00pm
NOW until 5:00pm Mon
Winter Weather Advisory
Today
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