Mt. Blackmore

We found the recently buried weak layer of near-surface facets one foot deep. The sugary facets lower in the snowpack were also present but neither propagated in our stability tests. Thankfully, another group dug a pit nearby. They got an ECTP20 on the near-surface facet layer one foot down. This means the layer is confirmed in Hyalite, Buck Ridge, and Lionhead. A similar story is coming out of the Bridger Range. Until proven otherwise, I am operating with the assumption that it is everywhere from north of Bozeman to Island Park. I am worried about this layer when more snow starts adding up. 

The wind was blowing ~ 20 mph on the ridge and depositions of wind-drifted snow near ridgelines, in cross-loaded gullies and near wind-breaks like trees, cliffs, and outcroppings were the most likely place to trigger a slide today.

Temperatures were above freezing when we got back to the car. Some small, wet-loose snow avalanches slide from road cuts and piled up a few feet deep next to the Hyalite Canyon Road.