Northern Madison

The head of Beaver Creek was scoured nearly to dirt and the cornice is quite large there already.  We noted one small wind slab avalanche just below it.  We found a similar avalanche in Second Yellowmule that again appeared to be from wind loading.  Both appeared to be several days old. Photo: USFS Bozeman Snow Rangers

The snow Ranger Crew got out and about on Buck Ridge today.  Trail in was in OK shape but is likely to melt back and get worn down over the next few days from sun and sled traffic.  Riding started to get quite good above about MM7; snow was generally supportable and ranged from 50-85cm deep for the most part.  Open areas had some wind effect but there were few hard drifts/slabs.  Anywhere that was sheltered from the wind had a layer of surface hoar forming, not surprisingly.  The head of Beaver Creek was scoured nearly to dirt and the cornice is quite large there already.  We noted one small wind slab avalanche just below it.  We found a similar avalanche in Second Yellowmule that again appeared to be from wind loading.  Both appeared to be several days old.  We dug a quick pit on a north facing slope in Second Yellowmule and had an ECTN in 85cm of snow.  Only the bottom 5cm or so of that pit were sugary and faceted.  

We traveled up Beehive Basin and over the ridge at the prayer flags. The first noticeable thing was the deterioration of the surface snow. It was the hissing, recycled powder sound of faceting in the upper snowpack. Quick hand pits revealed 4F facets through much of the SW-facing terrain as we ascended the ridge. We dug to the north of the prayer flags. The 68 cm snowpack remained very supportable on skis, less so on foot. The basal facets and the near-surface facets are increasing. ECTP30 at 12 cm from the ground. 

The snow surface remains Fist hard in untracked areas. There is some snow available for transport but without a significant wind event, things will probably stay put. 

Stability is generally good and will continue to improve without additional loading. However the same cannot be said for the snowpack structure which, I fear, will continue to weaken. Not a good situation when snowfall returns. 

Big Sky Ski Patrol triggered a deep slide in the Big Couloir during avalanche mitigation work on 11/28/24: "Summit north peeled the cornice way back to the ridge and took out the upper hanging snowfield before crashing into the Couloir, leaving a 5-6’ tall crown in the chute above the dogleg." Photo: BSSP

Big Sky Ski Patrol triggered a deep slide in the Big Couloir during avalanche mitigation work on 11/28/24: "Summit north peeled the cornice way back to the ridge and took out the upper hanging snowfield before crashing into the Couloir, leaving a 5-6’ tall crown in the chute above the dogleg."