Southern Gallatin

We experienced a remarkable number of thunderous collapses throughout the day (I lost count), one of which triggered an avalanche into Specimen Creek while we were in the flats. Photo: R Parsons

Here are some observations from our tour in Specimen Creek this morning. 

Winds remained steady throughout the day and were blowing from the southern half of the compass. Many ridgelines had been scoured down to the grass from yesterday's winds. HS was around 100cm around 8k feet and significantly shallower at lower elevations. New snow totals from the past couple of days was around 20-30cm. We experienced a remarkable number of thunderous collapses throughout the day (I lost count), one of which triggered an avalanche into Specimen Creek while we were in the flats. See attached photo.

I'd give this area a few more good storms before the touring is worth it back there. Lots of tree-dodging!

We rode to the divide between Cabin and Teepee Creeks and then the fog/clouds set in and we couldn't go higher or further out.

From the moment we left the trail there was WIDESPREAD collapsing all day long. Snowpits were consistently 3-4 feet deep and the weak layer usually a foot above the ground. At higher elevations, I suspect that the weak layer is closer to 2 feet above the ground. Because of the widespread collapsing and very bad visibility, we were hyper-aware of slope angles so that we didn't inadvertently get on or under avalanche terrain.

Small slopes at low elevations were avalanching including some along Hwy 191 in YNP. It's always a bad sign when road cuts are avalanching. 

We stayed away from ALL AVALANCHE TERRAIN.

The good news - the powder is incredible, the coverage is excellent, and this snow is exactly what we need to heal the weak layer. Unfortunately, avalanche conditions have to get worse before they get better.

There was a natural avalanche on the landslide face above quake lake. The avalanche failed on a weak layers near the ground and broke several hundred feet wide.