Northern Gallatin

From facebook: "Rode up Portal creek today... We triggered 4 avalanches with the farthest one being 300 yards away. The one in the photo was the scariest one. We were playing below the windy pass hillclimb and the chute next to it let go. We had a sledder almost get caught in it, but thankfully everyone was ok. It's scary out there!"

Northern Gallatin, 2024-02-17

Triggered 4 avalanches up Portal Creek

Date
Activity
Snowmobiling

From facebook: "Rode up Portal creek today. Meadows were killer! We had first tracks all the way back to Windy Pass. We triggered 4 avalanches with the farthest one being 300 yards away. The one in the photo was the scariest one. We were playing below the windy pass hillclimb and the chute next to it let go. We had a sledder almost get caught in it, but thankfully everyone was ok. It's scary out there!"

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Portal Creek

Whumpfs and a Natural Avalanche in Flanders

Flanders Creek
Northern Gallatin
Code
N
Aspect
N
Latitude
45.44020
Longitude
-110.93100
Notes

From obs: "Skied the whitebark glade on Flanders and got several whumpfs at the mid and upper elevations. Light overnight and continued wind loading. There was a recent avalanche that appeared to be a wind slab with decent propogation on a north facing rocky slope. Visibility was too poor to get a good look or photo. "

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Trigger
Natural trigger
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Whumpfs in Flanders

Date
Activity
Skiing

Skied the whitebark glade on Flanders and got several whumpfs at the mid and upper elevations. Light overnight and continued wind loading. There was a recent avalanche that appeared to be a wind slab with decent propogation on a north facing rocky slope. Visibility was too poor to get a good look or photo. 

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Flanders Creek
Observer Name
Florence Miller

Whumpfing on Little Ellis

Mt Ellis
Northern Gallatin
Code
Elevation
7000
Aspect
NE
Latitude
45.60190
Longitude
-110.96500
Notes

From obs: "Got a whumph descending the ridge from little Ellis on the ENE facing slope just below the ridge around 7000'."

Number of slides
0
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Red Flag
Advisory Year

Whumph on Little Ellis

Date
Activity
Skiing

Got a whumph descending the ridge from little Ellis on the ENE facing slope just below the ridge around 7000'.

Saw some small cornices but snow was soft below the ridge. Hopped on the flat ridge top adjacent to a wind lip and got no result.

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Mt Ellis

Not as Obvious but Still Unstable

Date
Activity
Skiing

On Mt. Blackmore we dug a pit on the east face near the ridgeline. We measured 10-12" of new snow that fell over the last week, equalling 0.7" of snow water equivalent. In the trees and less wind affected areas there were 14-16" recent snow, but we did not measure SWE there. In our snowpit on an east-facing slope at 9700' we found this new snow sitting on 2' of faceted snow, showing us that the structure is there to create avalanches. While stability tests were not remarkable with scores of ECTX and ECTP29, we did not feel like stepping into avalanche terrain was an appropriate decision for two reasons. First, we know the snowpack setup is capable of creating large avalanches and new snow will increase the likelihood of this. Second, recent wind has drifted the new snow into thicker denser slabs that will add additional weight to already unstable slopes. We saw clear signs of wind loading with fresh cornices forming at ridgelines and pillows of wind-drifted snow forming at the top of rollovers. While skiing out my partner and I both noted that the snow felt unsupportable with our skis breaking through to the facets below. We also discussed that as more snow and wind come this week dangerous avalanche conditions will continue to exist. 

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Mt Blackmore
Observer Name
Zach Peterson