Northern Gallatin

Cornices that formed mid-slope, indicating recent heavy wind-loading in the Bridger Range. Strong southwest wind between 12/18 and 12/19/21 drifted recent snow into hard, pillowy drifts. We avoided these drifts on steep slopes to give them a day or two to stabilize. Photo: GNFAC

These pillowy, hard drifts formed from strong southwest wind overnight between 12/18 and 12/19/21 in the Bridger Range. We saw minimal signs of instability, lke whumphing or cracking in these drifts, but avoided these features on steep slopes until they have more time to gain stability. Photo: GNFAC

Dug two pits at northern end of the upper meadow just above a rollover. Slope was ~24 degrees, with a little over 30 degrees below the rollowver. Both pits had about 20 inches total, top 10" of new snow on top of a hard crust, faceted snow to the ground. Pit 1 ECTP 10, failing on the crust layer about 10" down. Pit 2 ECTP 0, failing while isolating the column on the crust. Both clean failures on the crust. Lower 10 inches was faceted, but had some cohesion. Several tracks on either side our pits. No sign of other pits. We skied the low angle terrain on the south end of the upper meadow.

From obs 12/18/21: "95cm Snow depth at around 9400’ 40cm of new snow on early December ice crust Ectx18 Will have to see with more loading on early December interface if it becomes reactive All alpine terrain was heavily stripped from the wind."

95cm Snow depth at around 9400’
40cm of new snow on early December ice crust
Ectx18

Will have to see with more loading on early December interface if it becomes reactive

All alpine terrain was heavily stripped from the wind

On 12/16/21 A skier in a group of three triggered and was caught in this avalanche next to The Apron at Bridger Bowl. The ski area is closed and backcountry conditions exist. Nobody was injured.

Great Skiing out at Lick Creek today. I found 40cm of new snow (light wind effect on the easterly side) on the main south face that was sitting directly on the ground. The north aspect had a total depth on 90cm and closer to 30cm of new snow. The storm snow was right side up, starting at F and moving to F-. The only instability noted was a CT17Sc result where the new snow/old snow interface was. No propagation on ECT.

Skiers up the East Fork of Hyalite Creek observed this small avalanche on a road cut. Photo: S. Reinsel

I went on a xc ski up to Heather Lake today (my first ski of the season!), and thought I’d share what I saw. I expected to find signs of instability, given the new snow and our mediocre snowpack, but did not really see much to note. During the entire ski, I got one collapse on a small, shallow wind drift that was localized to within a foot of my ski. I observed a couple small sloughs off of higher terrain, but they failed to run very far or propagate into a slab. The only real activity I saw was on a west-facing road cut on the drive up (photo). This outing really didn’t give me enough information to ski off of—except to note that it is probably too early to ski—but the signs were encouraging.