Island Park

We are grateful for our partnership with the Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. It is always a good time to get out in the field with our education coordinator, Shannon. Photo: GNFAC

The snow depth was 60-70 cm (2-2.5 feet) at the upper elevations of the Big Springs Loop around the Black Canyon area in Island Park. Photo: GNFAC

Surface hoar and near surface facets are now capped by this weekend's snow. The layers are buried 2-4" deep in the Black Canyon area of Island Park. Photo: GNFAC

The snowpack remains thin in Island Park. We rode the Big Springs Loop around the Black Canyon area in Island Park. We dug two pits near the top of the loop in the area where one crosses the Canyon. One was on a southwest facing slope and the other on a north-facing slope. Both near 8100' elevation. 

The snow depth was 60-70 cm (2-2.5 feet). Surface hoar and near surface facets are now capped by this weekend's snow. The layers are buried 2-4" deep. These are not a concern currently but certainly will become so with the next significant storm (or incremental loading). ECTN2-4 on these layer for now. Winds were calm and avalanches in non-wind-loaded terrain are unlikely. Small areas of isolated instability are possible in higher elevation wind-loaded terrain. 

WE facing snow at 8100 ft Cabin Ck