20-21

Palace Butte

Date
Activity
Skiing

I skied up to Palace Butte today, and was somewhat surprised at the conditions. A pit on a south aspect at 9300’ had HS 150 and ECTX. The upper 85 cm of the snowpack seems to be bonded quite well, but I was able to pry my shovel at the column and get it to fail on some large, loose facets underlying a ~1 cm crust at 65 cm. Not sure if this is a widespread or trustworthy bridge in the snowpack, but I felt good skiing mellow trees nearby. This was the first positive observation I have had on this region’s snowpack, and I do not have much confidence in the overall picture quite yet.
While I was out, there were moderate winds on ridge lines, and localized areas with heavy wind-effect.

Region
Northern Gallatin
Observer Name
Sam Reinsel

Dudley Creek

Date
Activity
Skiing

Minimum of 25 cm of new snow in meadow at base of ski runs, snow depth 122 cm. On the climb up experienced collapsing and cracks in snow. Kept skin track on low angle slopes. Snow pit approximate location from Gaia, 8081 feet and 45.28793 lat, -111.29025 long. Snow pit data: snow depth 91 cm, ectx. We also performed a Bruce Tremper "If you don't cut the back wall, don't call it a Rutsch Block test". For this test the column of snow had a q2 failure on the first jump. Being old and aspiring to be wise we stuck to low angle slopes and had really nice skiing.

Region
Northern Madison
Location (from list)
Dudley Creek
Observer Name
David Combs

GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Jan 8, 2021

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

<p>Triggering avalanches is likely today on steep slopes in the Bridger Range, Madison Range, southern Gallatin Range and Lionhead area. Numerous natural and human triggered avalanches have been reported over the last few days (see the <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><strong><u>avalanche log</u></strong></a> a full list). Some highlights include: natural avalanches on <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23556"><u>Saddle Peak</u></a> and <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23552"><u>Fan Mountain</u></a>, many natural and snowmobile triggered <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23628"><u>slides in the Taylor Fork</u></a>, a <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23601"><u>remotely triggered avalanche</u></a> in the northern Madison range, and a skier triggered slide in <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23598"><u>Bradley’s Meadow</u></a> near Bridge Bowl. New snow over the last four days clearly pushed the snowpack past its breaking point. Unfortunately, these weak layers do not heal quickly. They are called <strong><em>persistent</em></strong> weak layers for a reason. While the northern areas got a bit more snow yesterday, the weak snow at the ground remains primed to avalanche across the region. Additionally, with the most new snow and strongest winds, newly formed wind drifts will be easily triggered in the Bridger Range.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Avoid travelling on or underneath slopes steeper than 30 degrees today. The avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The northern Gallatin Range has the same unstable combination with just a little bit less recent snowfall to stress the weak layers at the ground. Don’t let your guard down. Stay alert for signs of instability and dig to test the weak layers at the ground before committing to steep terrain. Human triggered avalanches are possible and the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</p>

<p>Over the last three days, skiers triggered an avalanche on Henderson Mountain, got collapses/whumpfs while skinning, and saw several avalanches north of town (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23573"><strong><u>details</u></strong>…;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23612"><strong><u>photos and details</u></strong></a>). Yesterday, skiers south of town got very unstable test results on a weak layer buried 2 ft deep. While weak layers are not as widespread as in other regions, they are out there and need to be checked for before riding steep slopes. Digging in the snow is your best defense against these sporadically distributed weaknesses. Today, the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE.</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 Avalanche Education and Events

See our education calendar for an up to date list of all local classes. Here are a few select upcoming events and opportunities to check out:

Upper Sage Creek Ridgeline

Taylor Fork
Southern Madison
Code
SS-R3-D1.5-O
Elevation
9300
Aspect Range
E-NE
Latitude
44.95280
Longitude
-111.31700
Notes

There were many avalanches on the Upper Sage Creek Ridgeline. These were on east through northeast facing slopes at 9300' elevation. The avalanches failed on the weak facets near the ground. They were one or two days old. Unknown triggers, they were likely both natural and snowmobile triggered. 

Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
R size
3
D size
1.5
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness
50.0 centimeters
Vertical Fall
50ft
Slab Width
200.00ft
Weak Layer Grain type
Depth Hoar
Images
Sage Carrot Divide Avalanche 4
Sage Carrot Divide Avalanche 3
Sage Carrot Divide Avalanche 2
Sage Carrot Divide Avalanche 1
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
20-21

Mt Blackmore

Date
Activity
Skiing

GNFAC,
Toured up Mt Blackmore today, good skiing up there! It was snowing throughout the day and probably accumulated an inch or two while we were out. Winds were calm on the ridge. We dug a pit off the skin track near the ridge on a SE face around 9600’. HS was 120cm, we got an ECTP30 down 90cm on a 10cm layer of small 4f facets.
Psyched it’s snowing!
Spencer

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Mt Blackmore
Observer Name
Spencer Jonas
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