Trip Planning for Northern Madison

View Weather and Avalanche Log
24 Hour Snowfall and Wind
as of 5:00 am
Today0″ | 30-49 S
Nov 20 1″ | 20-40 SW
Nov 19 9″ | 10-35 W
Timberline Station
9400′     11/21 at 18:00
27 ℉
SW - 20 mph, Gusts 33
9 " New
Lone Mountain SNOTEL
8880′     11/21 at 18:00
29℉
17″ Depth
Primary Problem: Wind Slab
Bottom Line: The snowpack is thin, but we are heading in the right direction, with 5-10” of new snow falling in our latest storm. Wind slab avalanches are the primary concern. Avoid steep slopes with signs of instability, which include recent avalanches, shooting cracks, collapsing (whumphing), stiffening of the snow surface or visual cues of drifting. Avoidance should be our objective because getting captured in an avalanche of any size will likely result in traumatic injuries. To reduce the consequences of a mistake, carry rescue gear, practice with it and follow safe travel protocols in and around avalanche terrain.

Past 5 Days

Sat Nov 2

None
Wed Nov 6

None
Wed Nov 13

None
Fri Nov 15

None
Tue Nov 19

None

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Northern Madison
Beehive Basin
Shooting Cracks in Beehive Basin
Incident details include images
Beehive Basin
Coordinates: 45.3480, -111.4030
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Party of three made our way into Beehive Basin up to near the bottom of 4th of July Couloir. Noted strong winds blowing from the south southwest (up the canyon) Saw shooting cracks up to 8 feet out skinning up a boulder pile on a east facing aspect, (picture my friend took). Snowpack still to shallow to confidently ski any of the upper couloirs. Further down in the canyon on the short grassier slopes snowpack was reasonably dense and stable with a weak crust layer under 8-10 inches of the light fluffy stuff, snow depth up to 2 feet in select spots. Friend reported hearing one small whumph breaking trail up to the ridge on a convex roll. Skied out the entire slope with 10ish other people and didn't see any other signs of instability.


More Avalanche Details

Shooting Cracks in Upper Beehive Basin

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 10
  • 65 CM Snowpit in Beehive Basin.

    The snowpack remains thin (20-25 inches of mostly unconsolidated base) and there were plenty of rocks and stumps to hit, but coverage was better than I expected (and probably better than most of December 2023). Photo: GNFAC

  • Plume of Snow on the High Peaks of N. Madison

    On the drive toward Gallatin Canyon this morning, we saw large plumes of snow blowing off the high peaks. We didn't see evidence of recent wind transport on our tour, but I'd be watching out for it. Photo: GNFAC

  • Shooting Cracks in Upper Beehive Basin

    Skiers in the upper part of Beehive Basin noted shooting cracks within the wind-drifted snow. Photo: T. Cox

  • Thick Crust in Divide Basin

    Inch thick crust on SW slope in Divide Basin. Photo: C. Daniels

  • Snowpit at Bridger

    Snowpit at Bridger Bowl on 11/5. Photo: B. VandenBos

  • Cracking in recent hard wind slab

    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

  • Minor Faceting in At Spanish Peaks Resort

    From obs: "1-3 mm faceting in front of the Montage. Clear skys and mid 20 temps"

  • Fresh Snow in Big Sky

    On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Yellowstone Club Webcam

  • Bridger Bowl Ridge Webcam

    On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Bridger Bowl Webcams

  • Powder Blast 2024 - October 25

    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 Madison

WebCams


8800' Camera, Lone Peak view

Yellowstone Club, Timberline Chair

Snowpit Profiles- Northern Madison

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Stations- Northern Madison

Big Sky

Yellowstone Club

Weather Forecast Northern Madison

Full Forecast, NOAA website
Extended Forecast for

5 Miles NNW Big Sky MT

  • Tonight

    Tonight: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. South southwest wind 15 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Low: 25 °F

    Chance Snow

  • Friday

    Friday: A 20 percent chance of snow between 3pm and 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 34. South wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.

    High: 34 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow

  • Friday Night

    Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. South wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Low: 25 °F

    Chance Snow

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Snow. Patchy blowing snow after 8am. High near 29. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

    High: 29 °F

    Snow and
    Patchy
    Blowing Snow

  • Saturday Night

    Saturday Night: Snow, mainly before 11pm. Low around 12. West southwest wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    Low: 12 °F

    Snow then
    Chance Snow

  • Sunday

    Sunday: A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 19. West southwest wind 7 to 9 mph. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    High: 19 °F

    Chance Snow

  • Sunday Night

    Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 6. South wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

    Low: 6 °F

    Partly Cloudy

  • Monday

    Monday: A slight chance of snow after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 20. South wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

    High: 20 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow

  • Monday Night

    Monday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11.

    Low: 11 °F

    Chance Snow

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.

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