Northern Gallatin

Ellis Obs

Date
Activity
Skiing

Toured up Ellis. Observed well-preserved surface hoar in meadows and on the ridgeline on NE aspects. MF crust starting to form on SE aspects. Dug at 8230’ on an ESE aspect. HS 120. Found the buried surface hoar layer from a few weeks ago down 25cm. Got collapsing but no propagation on this layer. Beautiful day!

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Mt Ellis
Observer Name
E. Donahue

Wind Slab Avalanche on Alex Lowe peak

Alex Lowe Peak
Northern Gallatin
Code
SS-ASu-R1-D1
Aspect
NW
Latitude
45.42720
Longitude
-111.01400
Notes

Attempting to ski the Hellmouth The snowpack appeared very stable on most aspects, however when dropping into the northwest face of Alex Lowe peak up and lookers left from the couloir the snowpack was extremely wind scoured. There was maybe 6 inches of  un compacted facets below two inches of wind slab. Slightly farther down slope the snow became deep enough for me to put in several jump turns on ski belay. After coming off belay I skied forward maybe 5 feet and broke off a wind slab around 20 feet wide and five feet below me. Shifting my weight right after that the snow below me also broke and slid away. After that I booted back to the ridge and we safely descended the south east face. 

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
1
D size
1
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
6.0 inches
Vertical Fall
20ft
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Surface Hoar in Hyalite

Date
Activity
Skiing

Pretty widespread surface hoar this morning near Hyalite Reservoir. It didn't seem to be as widespread higher up on Mt Blackmore, but we did see some pockets of it up there.

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Mt Blackmore

Windslab Avalanche on Alex Lowe peak

Date
Activity
Skiing

Attempting to ski the Hellmouth The snowpack appeared very stable on most aspects, however when dropping into the northwest face of Alex Lowe peak up and lookers left from the couloir the snowpack was extremely wind scoured. There was maybe 6 inches of  un compacted facets below two inches of wind slab. Slightly farther down slope the snow became deep enough for me to put in several jump turns on ski belay. After coming off belay I skied forward maybe 5 feet and broke off a wind slab around 20 feet wide and five feet below me. Shifting my weight right after that the snow below me also broke and slid away. After that I booted back to the ridge and we safely descended the south east face. 

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Alex Lowe Peak

Wind Slab Avalanche in Hyalite

Hyalite - main fork
Northern Gallatin
Code
SS-N-R1-D1
Aspect
E
Latitude
45.44720
Longitude
-110.96200
Notes

From IG Message: Wind slab avalanche on “east facing slope in hyalite”

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Wind Slab In Hyalite

Date
Activity
Skiing

From IG Message: Wind slab avalanche on “east facing slope in hyalite”

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Hyalite - main fork
Observer Name
Dylan Moeser