Good Morning. This is Doug Chabot with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Advisory issued on Tuesday, January 16th at 7:00 a.m. Today’s advisory is sponsored by Cooke City Super 8/Bearclaw Bob’s and Highline Partners. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas.
This morning has clear skies and temperatures in the teens to low 20s. Around Bozeman and Cooke City winds are westerly at 5-10 mph and 15-20 mph elsewhere. Today will be sunny, winds will remain light and mountain temperatures will reach the mid-30s in the northern ranges and high 20s in the south. The next snowfall is forecasted for Thursday night.
The snowpack in the Lionhead area is weak, unstable and dangerous. On Sunday, riders triggered two avalanches, one in Airplane Bowl off Lionhead ridge (photo), and another lower down in the trees (photo) that was triggered from the bottom of the slope. Weak, sugary facets near the ground are doing a poor job of supporting the 2-3 feet of snow that fell in the last week. Eric had lots of collapsing and cracking during his visit on Saturday (video) and warned of triggering avalanches from below or adjacent to avalanche terrain (aka. remote trigger). For today, human triggered avalanches remain likely and the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes.
Cooke City has a mixed bag of stability concerns. This area received 3’ of snow last week and over the last 2 days I rode and skied around assessing conditions. At the upper elevations I measured 9-12’ of snow on the ground. A few wind slabs that formed Saturday and Sunday night avalanched naturally near ridgelines (photo). The heavy snowfall also triggered a few large avalanches at upper elevations: the Fin above town (photo), and in Hayden Creek (photo). Not to be forgotten, lower elevation slopes with snowpacks less than 5’ thick have weak snow near the ground that could collapse and avalanche. All of these concerns warrant digging and testing because most slopes are stable, but a few are not. For today, the avalanche danger is a solid MODERATE since human triggered avalanches are possible.
The snowpack is still adjusting to last week’s 2-4 feet of snow. In the last 3 days skiers and sledders reported many slopes with stable conditions, but recent avalanche activity warns us not be complacent. Take a look at the Weather and Avalanche Log for a recap of the recent avalanche activity. Notable events include an avalanche remotely triggered in Dudley Creek in the northern Madison Range on Friday (photo) where the snowpack was shallow, a large avalanche on Saturday in Argentina Bowl south of Bridger Bowl (photo), and a snowmobiler triggered slide near Ross Peak in the Bridger Range (photo). Alex made a video on Saturday outlining the instabilities to look for in the Bridger Range, but it applies to other ranges too. Avalanches breaking 2-4’ deep are possible, but without new snow it’s becoming less likely. For today, the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE.
If you get out and have any avalanche or snowpack observations to share, drop a line via our website, email (mtavalanche@gmail.com), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).
King and Queen of the Ridge
King and Queen of the Ridge, Saturday, February 3rd. A Hike and Ski/Ride-a-Thon fundraising event to support the Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. Sign up and start collecting pledges HERE.
Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events
BOZEMAN
Jan. 17, 18 and 20 or 21, Introduction to Avalanches w/ Field Day, Info and Register Here
Jan. 22, MAP Brewing Pint Night, 4-8 p.m. MAP donates 50 cents of every pint sold to the Friends of the Avalanche Center.
Jan. 24, 25 and 27, Advanced Avalanche Workshop w. Field Day, Info and Register Here
Feb. 9 and 10, Companion Rescue Clinic, Info and Register
WEST YELLOWSTONE
Jan. 20, Avalanche Awareness, 7-8 p.m. at West Yellowstone Holiday Inn Conference Center
Dillon
Jan. 16, Avalanche Awareness, 6:30-8 p.m. at U.M. Western Library
COOKE CITY
Every Friday and Saturday, Current Conditions Update and Avalanche Rescue, Friday 6:30-7:30 p.m. at The Antler's Lodge in January. Saturday anytime between 10-2 @ Round Lake.
Watch the new Dashboard Talks, Episode 3: Down in a Hole. You should dig snowpits and perform stability tests, but how many is enough? Well that depends... Doug and Eric discuss the relationship between your objectives and pit digging.