Skiers in the upper part of Beehive Basin noted shooting cracks within the wind-drifted snow. Photo: T. Cox
Trip Planning for Northern Madison
Primary Problem: Wind Slab
Bottom Line: The snowpack is thin, but we are heading in the right direction, with 5-10” of new snow falling in our latest storm. Wind slab avalanches are the primary concern. Avoid steep slopes with signs of instability, which include recent avalanches, shooting cracks, collapsing (whumphing), stiffening of the snow surface or visual cues of drifting. Avoidance should be our objective because getting captured in an avalanche of any size will likely result in traumatic injuries. To reduce the consequences of a mistake, carry rescue gear, practice with it and follow safe travel protocols in and around avalanche terrain.Past 5 Days
Sat Nov 2
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Wed Nov 6
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Wed Nov 13
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Fri Nov 15
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Today
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Relevant Avalanche Activity
Northern Madison
Beehive Basin
Shooting Cracks in Beehive Basin
Beehive Basin
Coordinates: 45.3480, -111.4030
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
More Avalanche Details
Coordinates: 45.3480, -111.4030
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
Party of three made our way into Beehive Basin up to near the bottom of 4th of July Couloir. Noted strong winds blowing from the south southwest (up the canyon) Saw shooting cracks up to 8 feet out skinning up a boulder pile on a east facing aspect, (picture my friend took). Snowpack still to shallow to confidently ski any of the upper couloirs. Further down in the canyon on the short grassier slopes snowpack was reasonably dense and stable with a weak crust layer under 8-10 inches of the light fluffy stuff, snow depth up to 2 feet in select spots. Friend reported hearing one small whumph breaking trail up to the ridge on a convex roll. Skied out the entire slope with 10ish other people and didn't see any other signs of instability.
More Avalanche Details
Relevant Photos
Displaying 1 - 8
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Inch thick crust on SW slope in Divide Basin. Photo: C. Daniels
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Snowpit at Bridger Bowl on 11/5. Photo: B. VandenBos
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From e-mail: "Photo attached from near top of hyalite peak, 11/2. Cracking in recent hard wind slab, I had to really jump hard to make this. Walked on many other hard slabs that were well bonded. Highly variable snowpack. I think you'd be most likely to get into trouble by popping out a small hard slab pocket like this and getting magic carpeted into some thinly covered terrain." Photo: B. VandenBos
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From obs: "1-3 mm faceting in front of the Montage. Clear skys and mid 20 temps"
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On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Yellowstone Club Webcam
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On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Bridger Bowl Webcams
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The 26th annual fundraiser for the Friends of the GNFAC is October 25 at the Emerson Cultural Center. More info and tickets at: https://events.eventgroove.com/event/Powder-Blast-2024-101627
WebCams
8800' Camera, Lone Peak view
Yellowstone Club, Timberline Chair
Weather Stations- Northern Madison
Weather Forecast Northern Madison
Extended Forecast for5 Miles NNW Big Sky MT
Tonight
Low: 3 °F
Partly Cloudy
Wednesday
High: 23 °F
Increasing
CloudsWednesday Night
Low: 18 °F
Chance Snow
Thursday
High: 28 °F
Snow Likely
Thursday Night
Low: 25 °F
Chance Snow
Friday
High: 34 °F
Chance Snow
Friday Night
Low: 26 °F
Chance Snow
Saturday
High: 28 °F
Heavy Snow
Saturday Night
Low: 11 °F
Snow
The Last Word
Read accident reports from previous early-season accidents before you venture to the snowy hills. This accident report from October 2012 in the northern Bridger Range, and this report from the tragic fatality six years ago in early October are reminders of the potential consequences of even a small avalanche.