Regional Conditions for Northern Madison

70 mph gusts on Wednesday (1/13) in the Taylor Fork stripped some slopes and loaded others with fresh drifts. Photo: GNFAC

We looked at the avalanche in Hyalite that was triggered on Saturday 1/9/21. The slope angle was 33-35 degrees. It broke 2-3’ deep on weak facets below a hard slab, 1000’ wide and the debris was 5-9’ deep. East aspect, 9,800’ elevation. Photo: GNFAC

Skiers triggered this avalanche on Flanders Mountain on 1/9/21. It was triggered out of the photo to the right on a seperate slope around the corner. It propagated over 1000' wide, and 2-4' deep. Photo: GNFAC

Observed 1/9/21. Photo: R. Guenther

1/9/2021. Photo: R. Guenther

Skiers triggered this avalanche on Flanders Mountain on 1/9/21. It was triggered out of the photo to the right on a seperate slope around the corner. It propagated over 1000' wide, and looks to be 6' deep at deepest. Photo: A. Blackmer

We saw these slides on Jan 8 2021, and they look to be one or two days old and broke naturally after recent new snow. Photo: GNFAC

We saw these natural avalanches on January 8, 2021, they are likely a couple days old. Photo: GNFAC

We saw this avalanche in the third Yellow Mule on Buck Ridge on Jan 8 2021. It likely broke a couple days prior. Photo: GNFAC

On 1/8/21 we saw this large snowmobile triggered avalanches that occurred on January 7, 2021. It broke on weak, sugary snow below hard wind drifted snow and recent new snow. Photo: GNFAC

We saw this relatively very large, full width avalanches that was triggered on January 7, 2021. It broke on weak, sugary snow below hard wind drifted snow and recent new snow.

We saw this relatively very large, full width avalanches that was triggered on January 7, 2021. It broke on weak, sugary snow below hard wind drifted snow and recent new snow. Photo: GNFAC

We saw this relatively very large, full width avalanches that was triggered on January 7, 2021. It broke on weak, sugary snow below hard wind drifted snow and recent new snow. Photo: GNFAC

On 1/8/21 we saw this snowmobile triggered avalanches that occurred on January 7, 2021. It broke on weak, sugary snow below hard wind drifted snow and recent new snow. Photo: GNFAC

From obs on 1/8/21: "Observed numerous natural avalanches that had slid before this most recent snow storm. All on n or ne aspects going on the basal facets. Up to D2ish"

Photo: R. Griffiths

A sledder triggered this slide in Buck Ridge. Photo: M. Lennon

A large natural avalanche on Cedar Mountain was seen from the Yellowstone Club. Photo: N. Davies

"Big shooting crack across the south facing path from the skin track so expected the east bowl to remotely trigger and it did from 25m away on the ridge. R3D2 slide. Confirms all previous regional reports and the concerns of the day, typical in this specific area early season. Obsessive terrain management is the only way just now." Photo: Anon

Several natural avalanches spotted from Big Sky Ski Resort on 5 January 2021. Photo: H. Claiborne

From obs; "After the four of us skied, transitioned, and started skinning back up, the fourth member of our party (who was the last person skinning) heard a loud "whumpf" and saw a shooting crack propagate from our skin track to the right and left of us, approximately 60-80' wide. The slope was around 25 degrees."

Photo: L. Ippolito

Snowmobile triggered avalanche just off the trail into McAtee Basin from Buck Ridge. Appears to have been remotely triggered from below on Sunday, Dec 27th. Broke on weak snow at the ground.

Photo: GNFAC

Snowmobile triggered avalanche in the Beaver Creek drainage off Buck Ridge. Appears to have been triggered on Sunday, Dec 27th. Broke on weak snow at the ground.

Photo: GNFAC

Snowmobile triggered avalanche in the 3rd Yellowmule off Buck Ridge. Appears to have been triggered from low on the slope on Sunday, Dec 27th. Broke on weak snow at the ground.

Photo: GNFAC

Crown of a skier triggered avalanche on the Football Field, out of bounds south of Bridger Bowl, on 12/25/2020.

Crown of a skier triggered avalanche on the Football Field, out of bounds south of Bridger Bowl, on 12/25/2020.

A skier kicked off a larger than expected cornice as they skinned up the ridge on the W side of Beehive basin on Sunday (12/20/20).

A skier kicked off a larger than expected cornice as they skinned up the ridge on the W side of Beehive basin on Sunday (12/20/20).

From obs.: "Kicked off a larger than expected cornice as we skinned up the ridge on the W side of Beehive basin. Wind was blowing 20-ish across the opening, cornice had grown pretty good-sized for so little snow. I was making a turn on skins to get back away from the edge when the cornice gave way, probably pulled 25 feet end to end and broke a good 5 feet back from the lee edge of the cornice. I was able to get off the cornice and avoid going over the edge. No activity on the slope below after cornice drop,... although there was a decent hard slab that pulled out just below the ridge when the cornice dropped onto it.... Hard slab on the edges was about 10" deep, some big chunks of cornice on the slope for any future riders..."

Snow plow triggered slide near Big Sky on 12/18/20.

Photo: A. Meng

We observed a cluster of relatively small, loose snow avalanches in the Tyler's Slide area of Beehive Basin. We don't have the recipe for slab avalanches... yet. Wind-loading and/ or new snow could tip the scales. Both are coming this week and next, so stay heads-up! Photo: GNFAC

Light wind created soft drifts of new, low density snow near the ridgeline in the Bridger Range. This wind slab easily cracked when touched with skis, 20 feet along the ridge and 5-10 feet down, but didn't slide. This is a sign drifts will be unstable as they grow with more snow and wind. Photo: GNFAC

From IG post: "Weak and thin snowpack. A little sluff was all it took to entrain the whole season’s snowpack. S. Madison ~9000’ east facing" Photo: @vt.to.mt

From IG post: "Weak and thin snowpack. A little sluff was all it took to entrain the whole season’s snowpack. S. Madison ~9000’ east facing" Photo: @vt.to.mt

A skier saw this avalanche get triggered at Bridger Bowl (Schlasmans Lift) this afternoon 12/2/2020. "...The toe of the slide was all of 6’ deep. There is about a foot of fresh sitting on top of faceted crust that is sitting on top of more facets and another crust,..." Photo: Anonymous

Dave Zinn finds a thin snowpack on the east side of Beehive/Bear Basin divide. It consists of weak, sugary grains of facets, a potential problem when it snows again. Photo: GNFAC

Dave Zinn looks at weak snow on our skin up the west side of Beehive Basin. We found mostly sugary, faceted snow that will become a problem when it gets loaded with snowfall. Photo: GNFAC

From obs (11/30/2020): "The sugary surface snow is running in loose dry sluffs on steep slopes and I set off a small avalanche coming through a steep section, not a big slide but enough to knock you off your feet if you’re not paying attention. It broke about 1’ deep, 15’ wide, and ran probably 30’ before stopping as the slope lessened in steepness."

Photo: J. Dalimata

The Gallatin Valley Snowmobile Association put up the Beacon Checker at the Buck Ridge Trailhead. Don't forget to test and practice with your beacon! Photo: GVSA

Watch the video HERE!