Many slick roofs shed this winter's snow with the above-freezing temperatures. There are some impressive fracture lines at the ice rink in Bogert Park in Bozeman. Photo: GNFAC
Went up Wheeler this afternoon and found general stability. Dug a couple of pits around on E and SE aspects at around 6800ft, ECTx in both, about 20 to 30cm of weaker snow on the ground, but it was less faceted than expected given the cold snap recently. Pole probed and dug down by hand at about 8400ft and found a very similar structure.
ECTP17 below wind slab on weak facets approximately 3/4mm in size. Propagation about 80cm below surface.
Today we toured up Beehive Basin to Prayer Flags and down into Bear Basin. We found moderate winds transporting snow at Prayer Flags. We also observed a recent small natural avalanche that broke just below the cornice at prayer flags (9200'). It was unclear if a cornice collapse triggered the avalanche. We did not go to the crown, but estimated it to be about 20-30 feet wide, 6-8 inches deep, and running less than 100 feet. Photo: J. Breen
Today we toured up Beehive Basin to Prayer Flags and down into Bear Basin. We found moderate winds transporting snow at Prayer Flags. We also observed a recent small natural avalanche that broke just below the cornice at prayer flags (9200'). It was unclear if a cornice collapse triggered the avalanche. We did not go to the crown, but estimated it to be about 20-30 feet wide, 6-8 inches deep, and running less than 100 feet (Photo attached).
During our tour we saw lots of pillows of wind drifted snow and locations where slabs of wind drifted snow collapsed and cracked under our skis.
In Bear Basin we dug a pit and found weak faceted snow on the ground. We did not have any significant test results, but the structure along with the wind and recent avalanche activity was enough to keep us off steep slopes for the day.
The snow surface was powder in protected places, breakable wind crust in others, and either scoured or wind board at ridge lines. The skiing was best on low angle slopes protected from the wind.
Ellis has seen alot of skier traffic since my last submission for Ellis on December 15, 2022. A quick pit was dug on a south east facing slope at 7936 feet. Height of snow = 90 cm. Bottom faceted layer was 25 cm thick. The top 65 cm of snow is beginning to consolidate into a slab. We did not experience any signs of snow instabilty. My previous submitted observation for Ellis noted surface sluffs, yesterday we had none. I believe there was a slight temperature inversion as we all remained comfortable.
From email: "This was in a wind-protected area with soft surface snow and no obvious prior wind loading. By this time it had gotten considerably colder, so we did not spend much time there. The total snow depth was about 115 cm, and the faceted layer went from 50 cm to the ground. ECTP23, and broke clean and smooth. There were also a couple of ECTNs in the upper snowpack above the ECTP." Photo K Birkeland
Today we went up Divide Peak. It was much warmer up at the trailhead than in town, with a temp of 17 degrees at about 10:30 am. Went up to Divide Basin and then to the bottom of that southerly-facing slope that you ascend on your way to the top. It was a bit windy and some snow was moving, but not a lot. There were small plumes off some of the higher peaks, but I’m guessing a lot of the snow had already been transported by earlier stronger winds.
About 3/4ths of the way up to the ridge we dug a quick pit. This was in a wind protected area with soft surface snow and no obvious prior wind loading. By this time it had gotten considerably colder and so we did not spend much time there. Total snow depth was about 115 cm, and the faceted layer went from 50 cm to the ground. ECTP23, and broke clean and smooth. There were also a couple of ECTNs in the upper snowpack above the ECTP.
Went on a tour today with a buddy and traveled through twin falls basin as well as the maid. We skied a NW slope off of Palace Butte and found touchy conditions below the ridge line, but great skiing in the trees. We also skied the bowl of Arden peak. We observed numerous recent wind slabs that released naturally in the past 24 hours on NE and E aspects with some crowns starting to get covered up throughout the day. Judging from afar, I would estimate these crowns to be 6 inches to 1.5 feet deep.
