Regional Conditions for Northern Madison

Natural wet slabs were widespread on Fan Mtn. near Big Sky during the week of 5/13-5/16. Photo: E. Mullen

Natural wet slabs were widespread on Fan Mtn. near Big Sky during the week of 5/13-5/16. Photo: E. Mullen

Natural wet slabs were widespread on Fan Mtn. near Big Sky during the week of 5/13-5/16. Photo: E. Mullen

Natural wet slabs were widespread on Fan Mtn. near Big Sky during the week of 5/13-5/16. Photo taken 5/16: B. Rycenga

This natural wet slab slid early this week, Monday (5/13) or early Tuesday (5/14), near Beehive Peak. This photo was taken 0745 Tuesday morning. Photo: @cfirer

This natural wet slab slid early this week, Monday (5/13) or early Tuesday (5/14). Photo: @wallace_casper

Debris from a wet slab that released naturally Tuesday evening on saddle Peak. Debris ran very far into the runout compared to similar sized dry slabs that often occur on this path. "South side of 1/4 Saddle slid sometime last night. Looks like cornice drop then step down to near ground. Hi yesterday at Alpine was 62." -R. Elliott/BBSP

This wet slab released naturally Tuesday evening on saddle Peak. "South side of 1/4 Saddle slid sometime last night. Looks like cornice drop then step down to near ground. Hi yesterday at Alpine was 62." -R. Elliott/BBSP

"South side of the Glide Plane released as a glide avalanche last evening (May 12th) sometime around 6 pm according to source. Bed surface was ground in starting zone of wet clay soil sparsely covered in long grass.  Debris chunks, some snowmobile sized, rode up on surface and slid approx. 200 vert.  Debris could have bumped a tower on the old Alpine lift if it still lived there. Last freeze was 6 am on the 10th of May.  The high temperature on the 12th was 59 degrees at 4 pm." Photo and observations: BBSP

"South side of the Glide Plane released as a glide avalanche last evening (May 12th) sometime around 6 pm according to source. Bed surface was ground in starting zone of wet clay soil sparsely covered in long grass.  Debris chunks, some snowmobile sized, rode up on surface and slid approx. 200 vert.  Debris could have bumped a tower on the old Alpine lift if it still lived there. Last freeze was 6 am on the 10th of May.  The high temperature on the 12th was 59 degrees at 4 pm." Photo and observartions: BBSP

Large glide cracks opening up on a west-facing slope in Beehive Basin. Photo: GNFAC

Skiers found fresh wind slabs that were easily triggered on Saturday 4/27 near Beehive Basin in the northern Madison Range. Photo: E. Birkeland

Skiers easily triggered loose snow avalanches of the 3-5” of new snow. This morning (4/27) on the Bridger Ridge. Photo: @smooneyski

Skiers easily triggered loose snow avalanches of the 3-5” of new snow. This morning (4/27) on the Bridger Ridge. Photo: @smooneyski

Link to donate to the Friends of GNFAC: https://www.givebiggv.org/organizations/friends-of-the-gallatin-national-forest-avalanche-center

This slide occurred around 1400hrs on 4/19/19 with sunshine and temps above 50 F. Photo: GNFAC

Activity from 4/19/19. Photo: GNFAC

Activity from 4/19/19. Photo: GNFAC

Skiers saw this crown on Saturday (4/13) in the N. Bridgers. Photo: M. Gaffney

Recent spring snow has created instabilities that are confined to within the new snow. Areas such as ridgelines where fresh drifts form should be approached with caution. Cornices and fresh wind slabs should be avoided after fresh snow and/or strong wind. Photo. M. Gaffney

Debris from a wet slide that occurred about a week ago. This group also noticed multiple recent crowns and point releases on south to southwest facing slopes in the nearby Dudley Creek drainage. Photo: D. Proudfoot

Photo: GNFAC

From e-mail on 4/11/19: "We found reactive storm slabs and touchy windslabs near ridgelines. We kicked off a small windslab in 4th of July from the top of the couloir. Attached is a photo of the crown to give you a depth perspective. It was about 6 feet across and 3-4 inches deep."

Snowpit dug at Bridger Bowl on Monday (4/8). Heavy snow and rain are creating dangerous avalanche conditions. Photo: BBSP

Below 3-5" of new snow there is a supportable frozen crust on top of a wet snowpack on most slopes. Avalanches are mostly confined to the new snow on top of this crust (wet loose, dry loose, wind slabs). However, where the snowpack did not freeze below the new snow, or when this crust melts, deeper wet slides are possible. Photo: GNFAC

This wet avalanche crossed the Dudley Creek trail and took out a portion of a fence on private land. It barely missed hitting the house. Photo: J. Cummins

The wet avalanche crossed the Dudley Creek trail and took out a portion of a fence on private land. It barely missed hitting the house. Photo: J. Cummins

This wet avalanche ran almost all the way to the road near the Dudley Creek trailhead. Photo: J. Cummins

Large debris pile near the Dudley Creek trailhead from a wet avalanche last week. Photo: J. Cummins

Snowmobile-triggered slide near Fairy Lake on Saturday (3/30). New snow was drifted into small wind slabs that may remain reactive in isolated areas.  Photo: P. Cronin

Debris pile from the wet slab avalanche on Yellow Mtn. Photo: T. Vanyo

The debris gouged down to the ground along the track of this wet slab avalanche on Yellow Mtn. Photo: T. Vanyo

Start zone of a loose wet avalanche that triggered a wet slab on Yellow Mountain sometime in the last two days. Photo: T. Vanyo

From instagram: "Easily triggered 3" soft slabs/loose snow slides. NW facing Northern Madison around 11,000' Ran 400' on sun crust. At least 3 intentionally triggered." Photo credit: B. Gill

This wet slab failed within the past week on a west aspect in Beehive Basin. Photo: GNFAC

Outside Cooke City up Zimmer Creek, a skier spotted this cornice fall which triggered a small pocket down low. Photo: F. Madsen

Many wet loose and wet slab avalanches were seen near Zimmer Creek (north of Cooke City) on south and east aspects. Temperatures were warm at 10,000 feet. Photo: F. Madsen

Wet slab avalanches will be a growing concern as free moving water travels through the snowpack. This problem is most likely on mid to low elevation slopes that have a shallow snowpack and poor structure. Be aware of wet slabs as temperatures warm and the snowpack becomes increasingly unstable. Photo: GNFAC 

Warm temperatures are causing large cornices to lose strength. Be cautious when traveling on slopes below cornices and give them a wide berth along near ridgelines. Photo: GNFAC 

Above freezing temps and direct sunshine are creating unstable conditions on steep sun-exposed slopes. This problem is most common in steep rocky terrain or areas with a shallow and weak snowpack. Move to shadier aspects or away from steep terrain if point releases are occurring. Photo: GNFAC