Northern Gallatin

Slides triggered in Deer Creek, N. Madison

Deer Creek
Northern Madison
Code
SS-ARr-R1-D1-S
Elevation
6700
Aspect
NE
Latitude
45.29880
Longitude
-111.20400
Notes

"Today while touring in the Deer Creek drainage in the Northern Madisons my partners and I noticed many red flags. Wind was strong from the WSW. We had lots of collapsing and some cracking while touring up. We bailed on our main objective, and while returning to the car we triggered a wind slab remotely from the bottom flats of a gulley. A rider in our group began to descend when we felt and heard a large whumph, followed by a 3-5 second loud rumbling before a wind slab on the ridge above (100 yards away) released (SS-ARr-R1-D1-S, NE aspect @ 6700'). It was about 50' wide and 1-2' deep, but didn't have enough energy to run far down the slope. Touchy stuff!"

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Snowboarder
Trigger Modifier
r-A remote avalanche released by the indicated trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Bed Surface
S - Avalanche released within new snow
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
24.0 inches
Slab Width
50.00ft
Images
Wind slabs in Deer Creek
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year
19-20

"...today we toured into an east aspect in the N. Madison. Winds were stronger than we anticipated, already western sides of ridges had been scoured to near bare ground. While skinning along the ridge we intentionally triggered large wind drifts and small cornices. We dug a pit on a south/south east aspect and got ectp 25. While skiing a low angle meadow back out to the ridge a member of our party remote triggered a small slide on a wind loaded pocket on an east aspect. According to my partner it was 75 ft wide and maybe a 1-2 feet deep.

Avalanche Details: Slides triggered in Deer Creek, N. Madison
Northern Madison, 2020-02-11
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    • Collapsing and Cracking on Mt. Ellis

    Mt Ellis
    Northern Gallatin
    Code
    Elevation
    8000
    Aspect
    E
    Latitude
    45.57770
    Longitude
    -110.95500
    Notes

    "I observed this collapse & propagation as I stepped over some wood in the skinner on the north ridge of Mount Ellis this morning, ~8000’, due East. I was tailing Chabot and his partner, and they had passed this way just minutes before."

    Number of slides
    0
    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Problem Type
    Wind-Drifted Snow
    Images
    Collapsing and Cracking on Mt. Ellis
    Attached Videos
    Still worrisome on Mt. Ellis - 11 Feb
    Slab Thickness units
    centimeters
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Red Flag
    Advisory Year
    19-20

    "I observed this collapse & propagation as I stepped over some wood in the skinner on the north ridge of Mount Ellis this morning, ~8000’, due East. I was tailing Chabot and his partner, and they had passed this way just minutes before." Photo: D. Rider

    Avalanche Details: Collapsing and Cracking on Mt. Ellis
    Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Wed Feb 12, 2020GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Thu Feb 13, 2020
    Northern Gallatin, 2020-02-11
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    • Collapsing and cracking on Little Ellis

    Mt Ellis
    Northern Gallatin
    Code
    Latitude
    45.57770
    Longitude
    -110.95500
    Notes

    Two parties reported, "Widespread wumphing and cracking on Little Ellis (both on the north side and east facing meadow above)." and "We skinned up the road and planned to ski the eastern meadow below Little Ellis. As soon as we began skinning the meadow, heard, and felt, a significant "whomp" so decided to play it safe and leave the area."

    Number of slides
    0
    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Slab Thickness units
    centimeters
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Red Flag
    Advisory Year
    19-20

    Natural avalanche on Cedar Mountian

    Cedar Mtn.
    Northern Madison
    Code
    SS-N
    Latitude
    45.23660
    Longitude
    -111.50600
    Notes

    "Looking out from Big Sky I noticed two (possibly connected) crowns near the ridge top."

    Number of slides
    1
    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Avalanche Type
    Soft slab avalanche
    Trigger
    Natural trigger
    Slab Thickness units
    centimeters
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Single Avalanche
    Advisory Year
    19-20
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