Northern Gallatin

We skied the Y Couloir on Alex Lowe Peak and gained the summit via the southwest ridge. The recent snow felt more consolidated but remained stable on both the ascent and descent. We were able to break off a small cornice onto a northern aspect (approximately 4ft long, 3ft high and 3ft in width) of the southwest ridge of Alex Lowe, and the resulting collapse did not trigger any significant sluff or failure of the slope below. The recent snow sluffed more readily as it was baked by the sun during the ascent, on the eastern aspect of the ridge. A ski cut in the couloir did not trigger significant sluff, but the snow was much more dense, throughout the entire couloir, than in days prior on similar aspects.

Recent snow was sluffing on the North aspect of Palace Butte. Our snowpit on the east ridge of Mt Bole revealed a mostly cohesive slab with a ECTN 28 @ 55cm (The total HS was recorded as 325cm, but the pit was dug only to 150cm deep), and great caution was taken in selecting an approach and descent to avoid shallow spots in the snowpack. The new snow did not sluff during our descent of the east ridge of Mt Bole. We triggered two very small, wet loose slides on southern aspects below Mt Bole and Palace Butte during our return.

Crown of deep slab avalanche on Arden Peak at the back of Maid of the Mist basin in Hyalite. Probably broke between Feb 22 and Feb 28, 2021 Photo: GNFAC

Deep slab avalanche on Arden Peak at the back of Maid of the Mist basin in Hyalite. Probably broke between Feb 22 and Feb 28, 2021 Photo: GNFAC