Just a little more than 4-7” snow in Hyalite this morning
I skied at Lick Creek area and there’s 18-24” and still dumping
Low density
In the meadows I skied (not the Main meadow - too far to break trail 
) snow is on pretty firm melt / freeze crust. Heard a few whumps skinning up
We broke trail into Mt Ellis in 12-14" of new snow (8% density). At the ridgeline east wind was just starting to pick up. The new snow was also beginning to form a cohesive slab. We had no whumpfing and only minimal cracking, but with new snow and wind we decided to stay out of avalanche terrain. The snowpit structure is weak and I sunk to the ground when I stepped out of my skis. A stability test showed poor stability (ECTP2) underneath the new snow which confirmed our assessment. We skied good snow on low-angled slopes back to the car.
I sunk to the ground on Mt Ellis when I stepped out of my skis. A poor, unsupportable structure is not everywhere, but it certainly was on the ridge. Photo: GNFAC
Lots of cracking any wind blow sluff triggers easy
<p>New snow plus increasing wind throughout the day create dangerous avalanche conditions in the mountains near Bozeman and Big Sky. This morning 6-7” of new snow equal to 0.4-0.5” of <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/taxonomy/term/451">snow water equivalent</a> (SWE) blankets the mountains. An additional 3-6” will fall today, with 10” in the Northern Gallatin Range, and winds will increase. As we discussed from Beehive Basin yesterday, as the snow falls and the wind blows, the danger increases (<a href="https://youtu.be/3j3EtDDaSy4"><strong><span>video</span></strong></a>).</p>
<p>Slabs of new and wind-drifted snow will be sensitive to human triggers, and the likelihood and potential size of avalanches will increase throughout the day with continuing snowfall. As the wind increases, drifts will grow thicker even as snowfall tapers off. Signs of instability within the new and wind-drifted snow, such as avalanches and shooting cracks, will be evident. Without digging and testing, signs of instability related to buried weak layers in the upper three feet of the snowpack will be less forthcoming but could result in avalanches breaking deeper and wider.</p>
<p>Conservative route-finding is the key to traveling safely during a storm. Visibility is restricted so you may not be able to see the obvious signs of instability around you. Ride and ski low-angle powder today, have fun, and stay safe.</p>
<p>The avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE.</p>
<p>The Southern Gallatin and Southern Madison Ranges and the mountains around West Yellowstone and Cooke City received 4-6” of snow last night, with an additional 2-5” expected during the day. New snow and increasing winds create dangerous conditions on wind-loaded slopes where avalanches are likely.</p>
<p>Relatively small slides breaking under the new and wind-drifted snow are concerning when terrain traps like trees, gullies and rocks are present (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU_A-fTPYmw"><strong><span>Island Park video</span></strong></a>). The size and destructive force of avalanches will increase throughout the day as snow continues to fall and drift. Larger avalanches breaking on deeper weak layers will be possible, especially on wind-loaded slopes where the depth of the new snow is enhanced.</p>
<p>Keep it simple today, as snow falls and the wind blows, the danger increases (<a href="https://youtu.be/3j3EtDDaSy4"><strong><span>relevant Beehive Basin video</span></strong></a>). On slopes with buried weak layers, avalanches could be larger, and slopes will stabilize more slowly. Avoid travel on or below steep wind-loaded terrain. Dig and test for instability in the upper three feet of the snowpack before considering travel in non-wind-loaded avalanche terrain.</p>
<p>The avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded terrain and MODERATE elsewhere.</p>
<p>Please share avalanche, snowpack or weather observations via our<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_obs"><span> </span></a><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_obs"><strong><span>website</s…;, email (<strong>mtavalanche@gmail.com</strong>), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs). <span><span> </span></span></p>
<p><span>With 6” of fresh snow, slabs of new and wind-drifted snow will be sensitive to human triggers, and the potential size of these avalanches will increase throughout the day as snow continues to fall. As the wind increases, drifts will grow thicker even as snowfall tapers off (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU_A-fTPYmw"><strong><span>Island Park video</span></strong></a>). Buried weak layers in the upper three feet of the snowpack could result in avalanches breaking deeper and wider. Conservative route-finding and decision-making is the key to traveling safely during a storm. Ride and ski low-angle powder today, have fun, and stay safe. </span></p>
Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out: Events and Education Calendar.
February 16, FREE Avalanche Awareness night for women at REI Bozeman. Time TBD.
We toured into Beehive Basin and dug a pit at the top of the west facing slope near "Tyler's" around 9,000'. The snowpack is often shallower here and weaker. HS was 116cm and we had ECTX. There were 4-6mm facets near the ground and 2-4mm facets above that which could be a problem with a large load, but seemed unlikely to cause an avalanche today. We went over the ridge and dug on an east aspect at 9,100'. Here HS was 190cm and we could see the stripe of surface hoar 75cm down. We had an ECTP29 on the surface hoar layer. Stability has been trending better with minimal recent snow, and avalanches breaking on these weak layers seem unlikely unless they are loaded by a big storm...
