Northern Gallatin

Widespread SH had formed over the past couple of days in areas on the approach that were out in the open but shaded from the wind. We observed cornices in the back of the basin (NE/E facing) and a small wind slab had broken off underneath them. Wind-blown snow had filled in the skin track and ski lines from yesterday in maiden bowl. The sun was baking the southern facing slopes for most of the day today, and when we skied out, the snow in the direct sunlight was wet. 

It was a beautiful, cold, clear-few, morning with very little wind. 

HS ~140cm on an E/SE aspect at 7500'. HN24 of ~10-20cm between 7500-8500'. HN is light and unconsolidated with no evidence of wind transport. A thin, breakable MF crust was observed in similar elv. bands in east-facing trees below the new snow. Two hand shears had planar results on this layer but snow above the crust did not have slabby characteristics. No cracking or collapsing was observed. L-ASc-R1-D1-I sluffs occurred while skiing.

Very touchy storm slabs formed throughout the day. 6-8” deep by 3pm. low density snow/slab but very fast moving.Photo: R Griffiths

Very touchy storm slabs formed throughout the day. 6-8” deep by 3pm. low density snow/slab but very fast moving. Photo: R Griffiths

Very touchy storm slabs formed throughout the day. 6-8” deep by 3pm. low density snow/slab but very fast moving. We were able to trigger steep (35+) rolls with chunks of ice and even got one to go with a falling rope. We saw one natural (d1) that ran ~200’ down a gully near mummy 2. 

I toured up to the Divide Cirque today, and found some quality riding on SE, E, and NE aspects. 

I saw evidence of a recent car-sized cornice fall on an E aspect. The resulting dry loose ran far, but saw no crown or evidence of a deeper avalanche. 

Also noted a recent natural wind slab avalanche below ridgeline on a SE aspect at 9800’. It was around 60’ wide and ranged from 2-6” deep. 

The clouds came out just in time, before the sun began to have any effect on solar aspects. Saw active wind transport over by Hyalite Peak, but it wasn’t as bad over in Divide.

Today, we traveled into the Maid of the Mist basin and up and along the Palace Butte ridgeline.  Although temperatures have warmed up significantly since the weekend, strong winds kept conditions frigid. Winds blew plumes of snow off the high peaks and at ridgelines, gusting 50-60 mph. Photo: GNFAC

Winds blew plumes of snow off the high peaks and at ridgelines, gusting 50-60 mph. Photo: GNFAC