Snow Observations List

As we rode into Lionhead we saw many slides that either ran naturally or from cornice falls. Most of the slides happened Fri or Sat. Winds are blowing strong at all aspects and elevations. Slopes are being loaded further and we triggered a small slide (video) from 50 feet away (aka remotely triggered). This is a serious sign of instability and we were careful to not get on or underneath avalanche terrain.

Went skiing up in in Flanders area and saw several avalanches with crowns ranging from 1-3ft deep and running a several hundred yards wide. Also experienced 2 whumpfs and some cracks on a wind loaded aspect near the ridge

Not sure if this will be useful information, but it was interesting to me. Yesterday (1/30) in the illumination of the low-angle evening sun, I could see at least 4 crowns in the Crazies with a pair of binoculars from downtown Livingston. Mostly W-SW facing slopes above treeline on the group of peaks surrounding and including Iddings Peak. I am used to seeing windscoured W aspects, and had never noticed such conspicuous slides from town. Crowns estimated 2-3 feet deep, and most slides looked to be a couple hundred feet wide beat I could tell. I’m sure todays wind will remodel and transport all remaining evidence to the E side of the range. 

We rode up to Henderson Bench and then rode up the Goose Lake drainage. We dug two pits today, and we found buried weak layers that failed and propagated in both pits. On Henderson Bench (NE aspect) there was 7’ of snow (HS 213 cm), and we got an ECTP28 on a layer of buried surface hoar 2.5’ below the surface. We also dug on a west aspect above Goose Creek. There was 6’ of snow (HS 190 cm). The 14” of new snow had a SWE of 1.7”. Here, we got an ECTP 14 on a layer of near surface facets and surface hoar 1.5’ below the surface. After two days of finding buried weak layers that failed and propagated on different aspects, it’s apparent that triggering an avalanche on these buried weak layers is possible throughout the area.

While driving to work from Ennis on Jack Creek Rd, I observed a natural avalanche occurring on an unnamed peak.  Approx location is 45 22' 57"N 111 28' 49"W at approx. 9000'

On the drive up to bridger bowl, I saw debris from several avalanches at the top of the ridge south of saddle peak. Aspects E-SE. I didn't get a super good view, but I'm estimating they were size R1-2  / D1-2 and couldn't tell for sure if they were loose or slab avalanches.

From IG “Beehive basin on a east/ northeast slope. Photo taken at 3:15 in the afternoon.”

Some photos of recent natural avalanche activity near Cooke City attached.  We observed about 10 slab avalanches today that ran during this cycle.

Several avalanches in the Goose Lake area. Assuming they happened on Friday or Saturday. Photo: J. Mundt (Beartooth Powder Guides)

From text: "went up to Champagne Sherbet to ice climb but then there was a big fracture on the approach! Got to a safe spot and dug to see - a strange drifted wind slab over the old belay area has created a scary snow cave trap! We bailed out of there..."

We rode up to Daisy Pass to Wolverine Pass then out Lulu Pass. There was 1.5-2’ of fresh snow. There were several natural new snow avalanches on all aspects. We rode past Scotch Bonnet and saw more naturals. The slide on Scotch Bonnet was R2 D2, broke 2 feet deep, and ran 4-500 feet vertical, 100 feet wide. We dug a pit to the east of the wilderness boundary. On the N aspect at 9,100’ there was ~6.5’ feet of snow (210 cm). The 18” of new snow had 1” of SWE.  We found a layer of buried surface hoar in the top half of the snowpack. We got an ECTP 13 on that layer of surface hoar (4.0 mm) 1.5’ below the surface, and we got an ECTP 19 on a layer of 1.0 mm facets 2.5’ below the surface. The surface hoar is the biggest concern moving forward, and it will take longer for the snowpack to adjust to this new snow since it's sitting atop persistent weak layers. We avoided avalanche terrain today.

Took a drive up and around the Yellowstone Club and saw this slide today. I think that is Cedar Mt with Pioneer Ridge in front and to the left. Stay safe out there.

Noticed multiple crowns while driving up to bridger bowl this morning. Most evident was wide crown line on saddle peak below the corniced ridge stretching from the summit towards football field. Another was an obvious crown on what I believe is Argentina Bowl south of Saddle peak. From a distance, this all looked like new snow crowns and didn’t seem like anything stepped down to our buried weak layers. East wind had an interesting effect on the ridgeline above bridger bowl. 

Natural avalanches, very large below Chimney Rock by Daisy Pass. And north side of Crown Butte

I was skinning up the ramp on Friday when I thought I heard a jet flying over in the clouds, but the sound stopped instantly. I assumed that I heard an avalanche, but was solo on the ramp and had no desire to go that way for a better look.  It was snowing and foggy. Today a friend said she could see a crown on the north side of Wolverine bowl that appeared to be 4 feet. With all that water, I thought something would go deeper, eh?

There were numerous debris piles, point releases, and crowns on the north face of Elephant and the northeast face of Blackmore this morning.  Most of them appeared to have run during the storm (1/27) and had been covered by at least 6 inches of new snow. 

We rode to the Taylor Fork weather station (near Pika Point on the rim of Sunlight Basin) and noticed a few slides along the way. At the weather station we could see that the north end of the basin natural avalanched: the slopes from where the cornices end in Sunlight Basin past Pika Point. It broke up to 2.5 feet deep on an old layer of facets and surface hoar. The slide was R2 D2, 3-400 feet vertical and at least 750 feet wide. It was a large Hard Slab. We spent time at the crown digging, making a movie and getting cold. No surprises, just great to see a real avalanche. We also saw smaller slides looking west from the station, close by. Afterward, we rode to the Sage/Carrot divide in deep snow; hero riding. Skyline Ridge was obscured in clouds.

On the drive back to Bozeman we could see many slides on road cuts and on slopes across the river; low elevation avalanches that we don’t get to see often.

From IG message: "Another one today. Back of buck creek. Triggered 100 yards above where I crossed below it in the safe zone, after I went by. No burials."

Photo of Castle/Submarine on woody ridge.  This all slid today.  Looked like all chutes along this face and south slid.  Also east facing Republic ridge several slides above rock band.  We skied woody west face to 9500 feet.  Wind effected snow. Top 2 feet  hollow.   Not bonded to older snow.  30 degrees.   Skied down short of objective 

A couple naturals seen on similar aspects and a couple whomps. While we were going up. Stuck to low angle fun the rest of the day. 
Stay safe this cycle you guys!