Northern Gallatin

messing around in the cold. Assuming crust is from recent warming.

Another day of nice skiing on Mt. Ellis.  Dug a quick pit to the ground at the top of the burn, east aspect.  100 cm total snow depth, top 20 cms was was light snow with increasing in density with depth.  At 20 cms there was a bump in density and no real "crust" layer.  We skied some steeper slopes and saw no signs of instability.

...Additonal information for my mt ellis post, 1/17/2025.  My description of the pit snow profile left out the bottom 15-20 cms which was the ever present sw montana faceted snow.  It did show signs of healing.

Toured up Elephant Mt via the Blackmore approach yesterday. 

4 to 6" of light density snow with some deeper, wind loaded areas on the way in.

Very little wind noted throughout the day.

One small point release on Blackmore. Appeared to be new snow, less than 1' in depth, 30 to 40' wide, and running for 200'. No other avalanches noted in the area.

NE side of Elephant Mt had a snow depth of 110cm. 10" of fresh light snow, over a denser 12" layer that was fist hardness.

Zero collapsing throughout the tour. No cracking on any aspect at any elevation.

We skied to the top of Mt. Ellis via the ridge from the north. There was light wind on the ridge, otherwise calm. Snowing steadily this morning and tapered off by noon-1pm with skies clearing after noon. There were 2-4" of low density new snow. We dug a pit off the ridgeline on a northeast facing slope at 7,800' and one pit at the top of the burned slope, east facing at 8,100'. Profiles attached.

We skied to the top of Mt. Ellis via the ridge from the north. There was light wind on the ridge, otherwise calm. Snowing steadily this morning and tapered off by noon-1pm with skies clearing after noon. There were 2-4" of low density new snow. We dug a pit off the ridgeline on a northeast facing slope at 7,800' and one pit at the top of the burned slope, east facing at 8,100'. Profiles attached.

The first pit had an ECTX and the second had propagation with extra force. There were 2mm facets 30cm off the ground in both pits which were slightly softer in the higher pit. Snow depth was 3-4 feet up high and around 2 feet lower in the thicker trees and along the trails.

Beyond what we saw today, evidence of good stability in the northern Gallatin Range also includes not having heard of any avalanches (or only 1-2 small pockets) breaking on the weak layers near the bottom of the snowpack during the 2-3 weeks of steady snowfall from late Dec to early Jan. The snowpack has had a break from loading for the last few days which has allowed avalanche potential to continue to become less likely.

In general, stability was good and we felt good skiing slopes steeper than 30-35 degrees, while exposing only one person at a time.

Observed a fresh slide on the north side of Mt Blackmore, crown was already filling in, but looked to be a foot or two deep in steep rocky terrain to the skiers left of the north couloir. Photo: S Jonas

Lots of snow moving around in Hyalite this morning! Strong winds were moving snow at/above treeline, Lee aspects getting loaded. Photo S Jonas