Northern Gallatin

Skiers in Hyalite Canyon observed a small wind slab avalanche just below the ridgeline in Divide Cirque (below cornice on the peak in the center of the photo). Photo: T. Saulnier

While on a tour today up hyalite to check out snow conditions, we didn’t see too much recent activity. Old rollers were observed on south faces but we’re almost covered up due to the wind from the past day. I noticed a small wind slab that pulled off a peak west of Divide, head of swan creek. We found 120cm snowpack below Hyalite Peak saddle (9700ft) with two problematic layers. We got an ECTP28 at 40cm due to a ugly layer of sugary facets. We also got a ECTP25 at 80cm which was a wind slab that formed over the past week.

Skiers on Mount Blackmore observed cracking within the freshly wind-loaded snow on a southeast-facing slope just below the ridge (11/24/21). Photo: J Schack

This powder cloud from a large avalanche was seen on Black Mountain, up Pine Creek outside Livingston. Located outside our advisory area it is a sign of unstable snow, likely from wind-loading, that can be found throughout southwest Montana. Photo: Anon

Skiers found a shallow snowpack and very windy conditions today. Snow was moving and loading slopes. Photo: H. Darby