Northern Gallatin

We skied two west-facing slopes and one east-facing slope between 8,500 - 9,200ft. on the shoulders of Beehive Basin Sunday morning. The ice crust interface in the lower-middle snowpack seems to sit between two layers of rather incohesive, sugary snow. We did not get results on several hand shears which is thought to be because of the lack of a slab above the ice crust in the snowpack. 

One pocket in a glade of one of our lines had a short shooting crack ahead of my skis as I set our skintrack. ~1ft. of snow propagated uphill onto my skis. With further examination (pictures), it seems that the slab in this pocket, located in a small northwest-facing aspect was more cohesive than other slopes skied today. 

We did not see any other signs of instability during our tour. One natural, likely old avalanche was observed closer to Beehive Peak, on the east-facing steep section of Beehive Basin's west shoulder. 

From obs: "We were ice climbing on Mummy 3 and 4 yesterday and as we looked across the valley to Mount Bole, we could see evidence of avalanche activity on the NE aspect of the peak. It looked quite big in length but could tell a depth from that far away." Photo: R. Dorn

Photo taken 12/14/23. Avalanche likely released the previous weekend, around 12/9/23. 

From obs: "We also saw some spectacular surface hoar- probably 1-2" tall in places with extremely sugary snow underneath" Photo: USFS Bozeman Snow Rangers

We were ice climbing on Mummy 3 and 4 yesterday and as we looked across the valley to Mount Bole, we could see evidence of avalanche activity on the NE aspect of the peak. It looked quite big in length but could tell a depth from that far away. 

We drove and then rode up Little Bear this morning on the 3138 road (also snowmobile route #900).  Once 3138 splits off from 980 there was mostly enough snow for riding on the road without issues but little else.  Snow depth varied from 4-6 inches, down to 2-3 inches in sun and wind exposed areas, to as much as 18 inches or so higher up (8400').  We also saw some spectacular surface hoar- probably 1-2" tall in places with extremely sugary snow underneath; often so sugary we weren't leaving well defined tracks behind our sleds.  As with everywhere else, we heard some collapses while off of our machines.  

Got a view of the bowls behind maid of the mist and above twin falls today. Multiple natural wind slabs, up to size 2, on E and NE aspects, roughly 9500 ft. SS-N-R2D2-I.  My guess is they are roughly 48 hrs old.

Got a view of the bowls behind maid of the mist and above twin falls today. Multiple natural wind slabs, up to size 2, on E and NE aspects, roughly 9500 ft. SS-N-R2D2-I.  My guess is they are roughly 48 hrs old.