24-25

Collapsing in the S. Madison Range

Date

From IG Messages: “I was hunting up papoose creek today and heard loud whumping noises 4-5 times in the morning…. Was That the snowpack above me settling?”

Region
Southern Madison

Small windslab along Beehive Ridge

Beehive Basin
Northern Madison
Code
SS-N-R1-D1
Elevation
9000
Aspect
E
Latitude
45.34070
Longitude
-111.39100
Notes

Small natural windslab under the cornice on the Beehive Ridgeline around noon on 12/18. It broke up to around a foot deep, 20 ft wide, and ran about 15 vertical feet.

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Problem Type
Wind Slab
Slab Thickness
12.0 inches
Vertical Fall
15ft
Slab Width
20.00ft
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Poor test score on divide peak

Date
Activity
Snowboarding

I toured to the East shoulder of divide park today 

It was very windy and snow was being transported everywhere…..especially on the high peaks 

I dug a pit on the SE shoulder of divide at around 9600’ and got a ECTP 14 on the persistent weak created during the long dry spell layer buried from this weeks storms.  50cm of snow had fallen up high in the main fork of hyalite since Sunday night.  Total snow depth is 115 cm

 

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Divide Peak

Windy in Beehive

Date
Activity
Skiing

Skinned up Beehive Basin, dug a pit on the edge of Tyler's and climbed up to the prayers flags. Winds picked up as we approached the ridge, moving quite a bit of snow. Skinned along the Beehive-Middle ridge for a little ways and then skied down towards Middle and skinned along above the rollover for a while. Dug a pit and returned the way we came.

Snowpit in Tyler's (W facing) was 80 cm deep, with an ECTP13 on the facets mid-pack. Snowpit on the Middle Basin side (E facing) was 120 cm deep, with an ECTP 14 on the facets mid-pack.

On our way back along the ridge we found a small natural windslab that had broken below the cornice during the hour since we had been there last - it broke up to around a foot deep, 20 ft wide, and ran about 15 vertical feet. This was the only avalanche we saw today.

Got a few little cracks in switchbacks along the skintrack while climbing out of Beehive, but no other cracking or collapsing. 

Region
Northern Madison
Location (from list)
Beehive Basin
Observer Name
Ian Hoyer and Mark Staples

Wind Slabs near Cooke City

Date
Activity
Snowboarding

Lots of wind slabs south of Cooke today. Strong wind all day and lots of blowing snow. 

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Woody Ridge
Observer Name
Noah Mattes