Good Morning. This is Doug Chabot with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Advisory issued on Tuesday, April 4th at 6:30 a.m. Today’s advisory is sponsored by Grizzly Outfitters in partnership with the Friends of the Avalanche Center. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas. Bridger Bowl is closed for the season and has the same concerns as the backcountry.
In the last 24 hours, 3” of snow fell up Hyalite and 1” fell everywhere else. Temperatures are in the teens and winds are 10-20 mph out of the N-NW. Skies will clear this morning and today will be sunny with temperatures reaching the upper 20s with light northwest winds. Tonight will be clear and tomorrow will be sunny and much warmer.
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
As Mister Roger’s said, “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.” In the last three days a few inches of new snow with cold temperatures increased the riding and sliding value yet did not raise the avalanche danger. Yesterday I did a long snowmobile tour into Lionhead and found stable conditions. Under the new snow are multiple 4-6” thick ice crusts that easily supported our weight. Underneath the crusts was very dense (pencil hardness) dry snow. The day before I toured into Beehive and Bear Basins and also found supportable crusts and a dense snowpack (snowpit). Here, like many slopes in the northern ranges, the snow was moist to the ground giving the snowpack a head start for the possibility of deep, wet avalanches in the coming weeks.
Today is forecasted to be cooler and I do not anticipate wet avalanche activity, but I also know that small differences in temperature, cloud cover or aspect can change the stability quickly. I made a video on Sunday outlining the potential changes to look out for: today it is new snow on a crust, and if it gets warmer than expected, wet loose avalanches. As folks travel into high alpine terrain the potential exists to find a few rogue wind slabs that can be triggered. Climbers on Saturday triggered a wind slab on the southwest side of Beehive Peak (photo). Two Aprils ago a skier was killed on the north side when he triggered a tiny wind slab that carried him over a cliff. Good, stable, spring conditions rightfully invite us to push ourselves on bigger terrain, but they carry bigger consequences when things are less than perfect.
For today the avalanche danger is rated LOW for both dry and wet avalanches. Keep in mind that if the snow begins to moisten, roller balls and pinwheels are the first sign that wet-loose avalanches can quickly follow.
Eric will issue the next advisory tomorrow morning by 7:30 a.m. Our last advisory of the season will be Sunday, April 9th.
We rely on your field observations. Send us an email with simple weather and snowpack information along the lines of what you might share with your friends: How much new snow? Was the skiing/riding any good? Did you see any avalanches or signs of instability? Was snow blowing at the ridgelines? If you have snowpit or test data we'll take that too, but this core info is super helpful! Email us at mtavalanche@gmail.com or leave a message at 406-587-6984.
MAY 4: Give Big Gallatin Valley
The Friends of the Avalanche Center are one of the recipients of the Give Big Gallatin Valley campaign. It is a 1-day fundraising event for local non-profits on May 4, so mark your calendars. The Friends will send reminders as the day approaches: https://www.givebiggv.org/organizations/friends-of-the-gallatin-national-forest-avalanche-center