Northern Madison

Up to a foot of soft snow which seemed to have included a few inches from last weekend. Winds were transporting snow across Buck Ridge all day long.

We triggered two small and shallow wind slabs that didn't go anywhere, but they were a warning of bigger wind slabs on bigger slopes. We didn't find any faceted or weak layers of concern deeper in the snowpack. 

Wind slabs will grow in size overnight and will be the main concern tomorrow. Fortunately they will be easy to see an avoid.

Went up to Beehive Basin to check out the new snow as it was falling ---- but it wasn't, yet (between 10 am and 1 pm). There was a dusting of new snow when we arrived at the trailhead and a few flakes fell during the couple hours we were up there, but the substantial accumulations hadn't started. In fact, skies were mostly clear during our tour.

We skinned up the west facing sub-ridge to the Prayer Flags and descended via the Going Home Chute. Surface conditions were rough on any slope that wasn't shaded, with stout melt-freeze crusts. There was still a tiny bit of old, soft snow present in the shade.

No signs of instability or recent slab avalanches noted (we did see some older, wet loose slides).

Danger was LOW, while waiting for the storm to start in earnest.

Came across a old slide in the hell roaring drainage heading towards Gallatin.  East facing. Happened sometime before the recent snow but not long ago. Initial crown seemed to be 12-18 inches and stepped down further down the slope. Was a fairly large debris pile. Photo: S Knowles

Old Avalanche spotted from Wilson yesterday looking  North. Possible cornice fall trigger during the warm up but difficult to tell as it was quite a ways away.  Photo attached. Photo: Anonymous