Northern Gallatin

We dug this pit adjacent to a snowmobiler triggered avalanche. It broke on the surface hoar layer which is located at the top blue crystal card. The bottom card denotes the larger grains of facets that formed early in the winter. Photo: GNFAC

This surface hoar crystal is almost 1.5 cm (each square is 2mm) and was the weak layer in a few avalanches on Buck Ridge (3/29/20). Photo: GNFAC

There were many tracks in Buck Ridge and only a few small slides in First Yellowmule. This picture is looking SW towards Sphinx Mountain. Feathery crystals of surface hoar are buried 1-1.5' under the surface and are a concern. This layer seems to be more prevalent in protected areas. Photo: GNFAC

We saw this natural avalanche from afar. It was NE aspect and likely failed on a layer of surface hoar 1-1.5' deep. The Madison Valley is in the background. Photo: GNFAC

From obs (3/29/20): "...in Maid of the Mist basin there were multiple loose wet avalanches [and a slab] caused by a piece of the cornice falling off on Pt. 10201." Photo: N. Salsburg

From obs (3/29/20): "On our approach to Maid of the Mist, my partner and I watched several small point release avalanches on the east face of Palace Butte..." Photo: N. Salsburg

From obs. (3/29/20): "Significant wind started building mid morning, forming even bigger cornices and wind loading many slopes. Noticed this slide on an East/Northeast aspect at the back of the bowl above Maid of the Mist creek, possibly triggered by cornice fall but unknown. Happened between 9:45am and 11:30am today, as at 9:30am it was not there, and when we returned to the spot around 11:30am the slide was visible." Photo: CP