Northern Gallatin

This older wet slide is a good example of what to look out for especially at low elevations.

Riding in this morning, we saw this older wet slide on the Portal Creek road down low at about 6400' in elevation on a south facing slope by lots of exposed rocks. For reference, Gallatin River is 5800' in this area.

We didn't see any fresh ones on our way out at about 2:30. 

The most likely places for big wet slides are slopes or areas with exposed rocks and cliffs. Generally these wet slides happen a little predictably in the afternoon as the snow gets wet. We know what time of day they'll happen, but it's hard to know exactly when they'll release, so watch out when the snow is obviously wet if traveling under slopes like this. 
 

You don't need to worry about them in the morning, when the snow is frozen. What a nasty avalanche with sticks, rocks, and dirt in it?

Cornice release above the headwaters of storm castle creek which triggered a slab, east facing aspect.  Looked to be several feet deep and ran a long way.

Cornice triggered slab avalanche, maybe wind slab. Hard to say.

Toured much of the Hyalite zone yesterday.  Winds calmed, sun came out mid day.  1” of new snow and 3” the day before.  Skiing was great.  Saw a couple huge cornices that had broken off.  From the top of Devide peak we observed what looked like a cornice release above the headwaters of storm castle creek which triggered a slab, east facing aspect.  Looked to be several feet deep and ran a long way. No other signs of instability observed.  Great skiing. Solar aspects were saturated by the afternoon.

Total snow depth on a NE aspect was 230 cm (7.5 ft). Right side up and strong. Dust layer from Feb 4th was 70 cm deep (28 inches) with no facets under it. 

Several inches of dense new snow really made great skiing and riding on top of either an ice crust or firm layer of snow from recent sun and warm temps. 

Winds had moved snow at upper elevations.

Total snow depth on a NE aspect was 230 cm (7.5 ft). Right side up and strong. Dust layer from Feb 4th was 70 cm deep (28 inches) with no facets under it. 

The main avalanche problem seemed to be wind slabs. 

From email: Came out of Hyalite around 1:30 today. There were several small slides to the road in the canyon. One slid all the way to bare ground.