While skinning towards the ramp we witnessed what looked like a natural slide that started right around Pete’s Pinnacle which ran down along the boundary line about 1000 feet. Unknown trigger.
Went on a tour today down in the bacon rind, (slightly south of the skillet), my truck read -32 degrees at 8:30am when I started skinning. I dug a pit down to the ground at roughly 8800 on a east aspect. The total snowpack was 120cm. The bottom of the snowpack was all facets from ground to 25 ish cm. This was the only ugliness I saw in my column. The snow from the past 7 days was pretty much the whole column, I believe started at 30 ish cm. The snow fell right side up, very firm above the facets and gradually got softer towards the surface. Snow seemed very supportable, as it was not issue to step off skis as I only dropped 6 inches. Was not able to observe any recent avalanche activity in the area.
<p>Winds died down and snowfall tapered off Thursday afternoon. We are now 36 hour out from the end of a large loading event (4-5 ft of snow over the last 10 days). The peak of instability has passed, but this does <strong><em>not</em></strong> mean that conditions are safe. All the ingredients remain in place for a slide, it just isn’t quite as hair trigger anymore. You could still trigger a large and potentially deadly avalanche breaking either within the recent snow or on weak layers near the ground. Remain very wary of slopes that were windloaded during the storm. We still don’t trust the weak layers at the ground (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4yEaUsqo6A"><strong><u>Lionhead video</u></strong></a>). Getting onto any steep slope requires careful evaluation of the snowpack. Today’s blue skies will be a welcome break after a long stretch of flat light and poor visibility, don’t let it lull you into complacency or as an excuse to push your luck. Human triggered avalanches are possible and the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</p>
<p>Large avalanches broke 2-3 ft deep on Saddle Peak on Wednesday and Thursday (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25329"><strong><u>details</u></strong>…;). We aren’t sure whether these broke under just the wind drifted snow from this past week or on a buried weak layer in the middle or bottom of the relatively thin snowpack (<a href="https://youtu.be/kXE-CWnV_NY"><strong><u>video</u></strong></a>). Either way, they are proof that large avalanches are possible, especially on windloaded slopes. We know that some slopes have weak layers mid-pack and some slopes have unstable wind drifts. This should keep you on alert. Be on the search for instability if you’re thinking about riding in avalanche terrain. Today, the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE.</p>
<p>Conditions are mostly stable in the northern Gallatin and Madison Ranges. Look out for isolated areas of instability such as wind loaded slopes where the drifts have not bonded well to the old snow surface. Be ready in case you get surprised. Dig a pit to double check stability before committing to a steep slope and as always, go one at a time and carry your gear rescue gear. Overall, large avalanches are unlikely and the avalanche danger is LOW today. . </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>
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Get your avalanche brain ready for the season at one of the many classes listed on our education calendar, and list of upcoming events below.
My partner and I skied the glades off the east side of Mt. Ellis and found a relatively stable snowpack. There was cornicing present on the lee side of the ridge but we did not find the cornices or any wind slab to be reactive. We dug a snowpit on the east side down from the summit at 8240 ft. Our test results presented a CT 21 SC on a layer of facets at the ground. Our ECT presented as ECTN 16 at 64cm above the ground on what looked to be an interface between old/new/wind deposited snow. The skiing up high is excellent. Early season conditions still exist down low with exposed logs, rocks, etc. Temperatures were cold, winds were calm, and a trace of snow fell throughout the day.
Skied the east ridge of Blackmore. Dug a pit at 9500 feet on a SE facing slope, HS 70cm, 25cm of F hard snow on top of a mix of facets and ice crusts. ECTX. Dug a second pit at 9800 feet just off the ridge line, SE aspect, HS 90cm. ~25cm F hard snow on top of ~25cm 1F hard slab above a mix of facets and ice crusts. ECTP26 below the 1F slab. Headed back down the ridge a bit to lower angle terrain. Skiing was terrible, wind effect and breakable crust everywhere. Lots of slopes on all aspects are stripped from all the recent winds.
From skier obs on 12/31/21: 2 or 3 days ago Saddle went to the ground, big, between the peaks, full track....
Sometime yesterday on the east south east aspect just south of the ridge that separates football field from Saddle pulled out 100’ wide just under the cornice maybe 2+ feet deep, ran over the cliffs and dumped into bottom 2/3 of going home chute ran for a while then stepped down 2.5 -3’ and ran through that flats, but did not make the traverse back.
From skier obs on 12/31/21: 2 or 3 days ago [Saddle] went to the ground, big, between the peaks, full track. Yesterday quarter Saddle went big as well. Stepped down lower in the track.
the whole basin between the peaks [except a pocket that slid 3 days earlier] pulled out just under the cornice and went to ground until it went into the narrows and then rode up on a layer until about halfway down and then stepped down another 2-3’ and ran at least 2/3 of that run to the traverses back to schlasmans.
