Northern Gallatin

Gusty winds were transporting snow into drifts that formed cohesive wind slabs. Variable snow condition with a notable sun crust under the drifted snow (45.44653, -110.99872). Witnessed a dry slab natural avalanche start from near the summit of Blackmore mountain that ran into the main bowl. Multiple other observations of small loose avalanche activity on Blackmore mountain. The trail out was exceptionally rocky.

We toured into Bacon Rind which involved navigating downfall at the start which became easier as the snow got deeper. We found 2 feet of snow on the ground, all of it sugary facets capped with big feathers of surface hoar. We had no whumpfing or cracking and saw no avalanches. We dug 2 snowpits and got no breaks in our stability test because the weak, sugary snow did not have a denser slab sitting above it (ECTX). The danger is LOW, yet new snow, even a small amount, may ramp the danger up. For now, it is weak and stable. The skiing progressively got worse as we descended, which was no surprise. 

From obs: "I experienced a large, audible collapse and shooting cracks in a 10ft radius around me" Photo: Anonymous 

Skied in Hyalite today around 8200ft on some east-facing slopes adjacent to the creek. 

HS 25-35cm. Facets on top of depth hoar.

On our first few laps, we did not observe any signs of instability. 

We moved to another, slightly steeper area about 400 yards to the south and dug a pit on a 24-degree E-facing slope. ECTN27 up 15cm on a slight density change between the F hard depth hoar and F+ facets above. When we were almost at the top, I experienced a large, audible collapse and shooting cracks in a 10ft radius around me (picture attached). I dug a hand pit and did not observe any significant differences in snow structure or hardness from our test pit location.

We chose to transition and ski from that point. As I began to ski, the slope in front of me collapsed, with shooting cracks about 25ft in length. Both my partner and I experienced collapses the entire way down the slope while skiing.

I went on a little Nordic ski up to heather lake today. Up higher the snowpack is so weak it could barely support my 150 lb body on skis, and I spent a great deal of time wallowing through two feet of facets. There was a widespread, thin layer of hoar frost throughout a good deal of the basin, mainly out in the open. I got one relatively large collapse as I stepped out in the open near heather lake, and then 5-6 smaller ones as I looped around above it.

Skied in Hyalite around ~8000ft on E and NE aspects. Clear skies, calm winds, beautiful day.

HS ~40cm, composed entirely of basal facets and storm snow. Was easily able to put my poles to the ground basket side down.

Despite the unconsolidated snowpack, I had 25+ significant collapses while breaking trail, with shooting cracks up to 50ft long. The collapses created visible waves on the surface of the snow and shook small trees and weeds sticking through.