21-22

From obs (3/6/22): " Skinned out to Alex Lowe peak today. Dug a pit on a northeast aspect below the east face of the peak. Got an ECTP 24 to break around 20 cm down. The slab was a knife hard sun/wind crust. Continued up avoiding areas where we noticed that bullet hard crust under the surface. On our decent we skied off the east ridge below the summit and on a skit cut got some shooting cracks, and a small wind slap to propagate but not slide. Skied the rest of the way down and didn’t notice anything else." Photo: S. Lipsteuer

Avalanche Details: Shooting cracks and unstable pit on Alex Lowe
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Mar 7, 2022GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Tue Mar 8, 2022GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Wed Mar 9, 2022
Northern Gallatin, 2022-03-06
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    • Wet slides along Quake Lake and Cabin Creek

    Cabin Creek
    Southern Madison
    Code
    WL-N-D2
    Latitude
    44.89490
    Longitude
    -111.22800
    Notes

    Multiple natural large wet slides were observed near Quake Lake and Cabin creek which likely occurred on 3/3, maybe 3/4.

    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Avalanche Type
    Wet loose-snow avalanche
    Trigger
    Natural trigger
    D size
    2
    Images
    Wet slides along Quake Lake
    Large wet slide in Cabin Creek
    Slab Thickness units
    centimeters
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Multiple Avalanches
    Advisory Year
    21-22

    Snow Profile

    Date
    Activity
    Skiing

    Burly melt freeze crust found on solar aspects, profile attached.

     

    Michael

    Region
    Cooke City
    Location (from list)
    Sheep Creek
    Observer Name
    Cooke City - Sheep Creek

    Shooting cracks and unstable pit on Alex Lowe

    Date
    Activity
    Skiing

    Skinned out to Alex Lowe peak today. Dug a pit on a northeast aspect below the east face of the peak. Got an ECTP 24 to break around 20 cm down. The slab was a knife hard sun/wind crust. Continued up avoiding areas where we noticed that bullet hard crust under the surface. On our decent we skied off the east ridge below the summit and on a skit cut got some shooting cracks, and a small wind slap to propagate but not slide. Skied the rest of the way down and didn’t notice anything else.

    Region
    Northern Gallatin
    Location (from list)
    Alex Lowe Peak
    Observer Name
    Spencer

    GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Mar 6, 2022

    Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

    <p>Near Cooke City there has been steady avalanche activity over the last couple weeks (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev2Fq5NQGjU&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvR9KcA-… update video</strong></a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><strong><u>activity log</u></strong></a>), and today it remains possible to trigger avalanches that break on weak snow buried 1-2 feet deep. On Thursday natural avalanches broke ~100 feet wide on these weak layers in Republic Creek, Hayden Creek, and on Mineral Mountain (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/natural-avalanche-republic-creek"…;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/natural-avalanche-republic-creek-…; </strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26073"><strong><u>details</u></strong>…;). On Friday skiers triggered an avalanche remotely from a low angle ridgeline above the slope&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/remote-triggered-avalanche-near-c…;). Yesterday skiers in Yellowstone had a large collapse of the snowpack on low angle terrain (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26090"><strong><u>details</u></strong>…;). These are signs avalanches can break wide and be triggered from lower angle slopes that are connected to steep slopes. Before you travel on or underneath steep slopes carefully assess the snowpack for unstable buried weak layers, and assess the consequences of being caught in an avalanche. Today avalanches are possible and avalanche danger is MODERATE.</p>

    <p>Today avalanches are unlikely, but not impossible. Be on the lookout for isolated areas of instability like where wind has drifted snow into a thicker slab on top of weak snow 6-18” deep. Yesterday we rode at Buck Ridge and saw the weak snow that we’ve been talking about since January is still a problem (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Yq1RmjMMJ4&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2…;), and on Thursday Ian saw similar conditions at Lionhead (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfudo3K5_dM"><strong><u>video</u></stro…;). There has been zero reported avalanche activity on this weak layer since last weekend, and a lack of snow over the last week has allowed the snowpack time to become more stable without added stress. The 1-4” of snow that fell yesterday is not enough to create more than a few isolated hazards.</p>

    <p>Watch for cracks shooting out from your skis as a sign fresh drifts may be unstable. Before riding on steep slopes assess the snowpack to be sure there is not weak snow buried below a thick slab of snow. Be extra careful in terrain where even a small slide could have big consequences due to pushing you into trees, rocks, creek beds, gullies, or over cliffs. The avalanche danger today is LOW. Avalanches are unlikely, but not impossible if you find an isolated area of unstable snow.</p>

    <p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>websi…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong><u>mtavalanche@gmail.com</u></str…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>

    <p>&nbsp;</p>

    Upcoming Education Opportunities

    See our education calendar for an up-to-date list of all local classes. Here are a few select upcoming events.

    Every Saturday near Cooke City, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. FREE snowpack update and transceiver/rescue training. Stop by for 20 minutes or more at the Round Lake Warming Hut.

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