20-21

Woody Ridge

Date
Activity
Skiing

Woody Ridge Mountain Resort was still delivering the goods today despite a few days without snow. Variable HS- over 200 cm on heavily loaded features and plenty of rocks and shrubbery still exposed in scoured areas. 140 cm where we dug, ECTX, no signs of instability throughout the day. There was a thin crust forming on solar aspects by the end of the day.

Region
Cooke City
Observer Name
Henry Coppolillo

NW of Elf Lake

Date
Activity
Skiing

See attached Image of Snow. Nothing unusual. Lower Pitch in Trees, 2 well defined weak layers present primarily at surface (30cm) and just below at (20cm).

7785FT, Clear, 25F. 10 degree Slope Facing Easterly in forest below steeps.

Region
Bridger Range
Location (from list)
BRIDGER RANGE
Observer Name
jon budreski

GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Thu Nov 19, 2020

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

<p>The mountains throughout our advisory area have a layered snowpack, and avalanches can be triggered on steep slopes. Strong winds drifted last night’s snow into slabs which will continue to grow with strong west-southwest wind today and tomorrow.</p>

<p>Identify and avoid fresh drifts on steep slopes. Expect to find these drifts along ridgelines. Look for signs such as round pillows of snow and feel for relatively hard or hollow slabs. Photos from last week of a skier triggered avalanche (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/wind-slab-n-bridgers"><strong>pho…;) and cracking drifts (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/skier-triggered-hard-wind-slabs-n…;) are examples of what you might see today and this weekend. Stay diligent with snowpack stability assessment and safe travel protocols through the weekend. If you do ski or ride on steep slopes, assess the consequences of a slide and minimize exposure to trees, cliffs, bare rocks and confined gullies.</p>

<p>Before you go out make sure that all your avalanche rescue gear is in good condition, and practice using it. Watch Dave’s early season videos for tips on checking your gear (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izkv4IIUmbk&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvQDzKmH…;) and practicing with your beacon (<a href="https://youtu.be/p1xuaaSq4YU"><strong>video</strong></a&gt;). For more on early season snow conditions you can watch Doug’s 1-hour lecture from a couple weeks ago <a href="https://youtu.be/vyKdBBzd5IE"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p&gt;

<p>Every day we will update the <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/weather/wx-avalanche-log"><strong>weather log</strong></a>, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/photos"><strong>photos page</strong></a> and <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><strong>avalanche activity list</strong></a>.&nbsp; We will continue issuing early season updates and transition to daily avalanche forecasts when we get more snow. If you have avalanche, snowpack or weather observations to share, please submit them via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong>website<…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong>mtavalanche@gmail.com</strong></a…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</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:

Hyalite

Date

Soggy up there today. Light rain to 9000 ft progressed to snow that stuck at roughly 8000ft. Only 1cm accumulation at that elevation, estimate 3-5 cm above 9k. No avalanche activity observed.

Observer Name
Sam H
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