Photo: A.A.
Trip Planning for Northern Gallatin
Primary Problem: Wind Slab
Bottom Line: Wind slab avalanches are the primary concern through the weekend. They could break under the snow that fell yesterday or in the new snow that is going to fall and be blown around tomorrow and Sunday. Either way, they could easily have enough power to knock you off your feet and into the plethora of rocks and stumps that are still exposed with a thin, early season snowpack.Past 5 Days
Wed Nov 6
None
None
Wed Nov 13
None
None
Fri Nov 15
None
None
Tue Nov 19
None
None
Fri Nov 22
None
None
Relevant Avalanche Activity
Northern Gallatin
Hyalite - East Fork
Wet snow avalanches in Hyalite
Hyalite - East Fork
WL-N-R1-D1.5-U
Elevation: 7,900
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
More Avalanche Details
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
Displaying 1 - 15
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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
WebCams
Bozeman Pass, Looking SE
Weather Stations- Northern Gallatin
Weather Forecast Northern Gallatin
Extended Forecast for14 Miles SE Gallatin Gateway MT
This Afternoon
High: 22 °F
Slight Chance
SnowTonight
Low: 13 °F
Mostly Clear
Monday
High: 25 °F
Sunny
Monday Night
Low: 17 °F
Mostly Cloudy
Tuesday
High: 27 °F
Chance Snow
Tuesday Night
Low: 15 °F
Chance Snow
Wednesday
High: 22 °F
Mostly Sunny
Wednesday Night
Low: 10 °F
Slight Chance
SnowThanksgiving Day
High: 22 °F
Slight Chance
Snow then
Mostly Sunny
The Last Word
Read accident reports from previous early-season accidents before you venture to the snowy hills. This accident report from October 2012 in the northern Bridger Range, and this report from the tragic fatality six years ago in early October are reminders of the potential consequences of even a small avalanche.