Snow Observations List
We rode through White Elephant and Yale Creek to the head of Hellroaring Creek. There was 8-10” of dense new snow. Poor visibility limited The avalanche viewing.
As we reached the upper reaches of Yale, the snowpack was 250-280cm deep. When we dropped our probes to the base of the snowpack, we found weak snow toward the bottom. CTs and ECTNs in the single digits broke below the new snow on a layer of graupel. No other upper-level instabilities were noted. The depth of the weak layers at the base of the snowpack makes them difficult to trigger but any subsequent avalanche would be catastrophic.
Full Snow Observation ReportOut with the Ride Rasmussen trip and found some test slopes to Sled cut.
Was able to produce some cracking and small slabs. S/SW aspect 7800.
Moderate to heavy snow throughout the day. New snow varies from 5”-10” in the deeper drifted locations.
We rode from the bottom of Sawtelle over into Yale Creek. There was 5-7" of snow from last night and 14" of settled snow (2.0" SWE) from over the past week. Wind had formed thick drifts over the past week and was forming fresh drifts today. We did not see cracking in fresh drifts that we rode through. However, with new snow and wind-loading currently growing slabs, we expect avalanches breaking in the new snow and drifts are likely on steep slopes. In one snowpit we had ECTP13 on a thin layer of facets below the 14" of snow from over the last week. This could contribute to avalanches breaking under the weight of new snow and drifts as the slabs get larger. We did not see anything remarkable break on the weak layers deeper in the snowpack, but we are not trusting deeper weak layers during the ongoing loading this weekend, and we expect deeper avalanches are possible to trigger or could happen naturally.
Snow fell lightly all day with some heavier pulses, skies were overcast, and wind was light with moderate gusts from the west. We did not see any avalanches, but did not see much terrain due to limited visibility.
Full Snow Observation ReportRode Sawtell past two days. Very wide spread stout slab formed under the new snow that’s fallen. Heavy winds have scoured new snow away in places and deposited pillows in other aspects. Dug a pit with ECTX results but did not two layers of concern. One thin buried facet layer about 60cm down and the thick melt freeze about 80cm down. HS was 160 on a SE aspect about 8300.
Full Snow Observation ReportCentennial range blue and Wilson creeks. Did not see any signs of avys , or snow collapsing or whooping. Riders were on exposed slopes steeper than 30 degrees on all aspects high marking. It seems the centennial range has A more stable pack than other advisory areas. Although did not evaluate snow pack or dig pit, we stayed in low angle terrain
Full Snow Observation ReportNo details, came upon them while riding and making observations of the terrain. One was North-Northeast, the other was North-Northwest facing. Across the drainage from each other.
Also, notice three other small avalanches on a west facing slope, about two miles east of the first two. All five were on slopes well over 30. In the centennial mountains, close to the continental on the Idaho/Montana border.
No details, came upon them while riding and making observations of the terrain. One was North-Northeast, the other was North-Northwest facing. Across the drainage from each other.
Also, notice three other small avalanches on a west facing slope, about two miles east of the first two. All five were on slopes well over 30. In the centennial mountains, close to the continental on the Idaho/Montana border.
Wind was calm and there was no new snow overnight. A small whumpf in the skin track was followed by a massive one a few minutes later. I can count on one hand the number of times I got whumpfs in a skin track...rare indeed. The second one was so big it had us both deeply concerned. We peeled off the skin track after deciding to not cross a gully and soon found debris from a sizeable avalanche that released a couple days ago about 500' above us. We dug in the flank and had 100 cm of snow, 60 cm new from last week. The snowfall during the Avalanche Warning, doubled the depth and more than doubled the snow water equivalent of the snowpack. It was a large load and avalanches are breaking underneath the new snow.
Karl was using his 100 cm long Norwegian Battle Saw (pic)...a bit overkill.
Full Snow Observation ReportFrom IG 2/10/24: “East aspect, southwest of island park from the blue creek trailhead.”
Full Snow Observation ReportToured up Brackett Creek to 8000’ on the E shoulder of Ross Peak. Depth of 90-120cm near 8000’. No propagation in ECT (ENE 7900’). Lots of trail breaking and no collapsing or whumps. No avalanches observed.
Full Snow Observation ReportTest snow profile. The snow was surprisingly deep at HS 180, most likely from wind loading. Felt and heard various collapses of the snow during the day while riding snowmobiles. Approximately 30CM of fresh snow over a thin MFC followed by a dense thick snow slab. CT and ECT indicate this MFC is the weakest layer. CTM(16)SC down 30, ECTN(6) down 30
Full Snow Observation ReportWe rode into Yale Creek today. At the head of the creek, we stopped and dug on a south-facing slope at 9000'. We found 30" of new snow that has fallen over the last week on top of an already unstable snowpack. From here we continued up Yale Creek and on a small NE-facing slope, we saw an avalanche that was triggered by snowmobilers within the last couple of days. This avalanche was 2-3' deep and 100 feet wide and failed on weak faceted snow near the ground. It did not run far vertically because it was such a small slope. We dug near here on a SE facing slope and saw a similar setup as earlier with 30"+ of new snow overlaying weak snow.
On our way out, we saw a small freshly triggered avalanche. This was in a small gully and failed on weak snow near the ground 1-2' deep. With poor visibility, we did not get an opportunity to see any avalanches on larger slopes. However, seeing avalanches on small protected slopes is a good indicator that there are likely avalanches on larger steep slopes we could not see.
Wind was calm to light out of the south and snow continued through the day, with 1-2" of snow falling while we rode.
Full Snow Observation ReportFrom FB:
No avalanches observed. A foot of new snow in 24hrs, 3-4 inches throughout the day. Strong wind gusts in the morning into early afternoon, drifting in open areas and higher elevations. Experienced multiple whoomphing in an open flat area.
Full Snow Observation ReportFrom email: "Temp 27. 4'' new snow, Rate S1, Sky OVC. NE aspect, SE winds, L observed localized drifting. Elevation 7790’. conducted several CT tests scored CTM and CTH (SC) ECTP 21, NE of Two Top on a layer of SH 35cm from surface. New snow on a melt freeze crust very reactive CTE 15cm from surface. Possible new layer of concern as new snow accumulates. No recent avalanches observed."
Full Snow Observation Report120 cm HS, OVC, E aspect, 6" new snow, -4c air temp, 14 deg. incline, blowing snow: none. ECTP 22 at 101 cm
Full Snow Observation ReportNorth of sawtelle peak between sawtelle and Bootjack. General observations of surprisingly low snowpack. Traveled from red rock parking lot to flats to Bootjack then south toward sawtelle then east to the flats and back north to red rock parking. The northern area had on average 6-10 inches, the southern area had 12-15 inches. Elevations were between 6300 and 7200 feet. Aspects were mostly NW to N to NE to E.
Full Snow Observation ReportFrom email on 2/2/24: "We received a call of a missing snowmobile in the Keg Springs area of Island Park at 1642. The missing snowmobiler arrived at 1800 hours at the rental property his party is staying at and said he had self-extricated from an avalanche."
Full Snow Observation Report
Lots of collapsing and whomping in the snow, 3 avalanches seen in hell roaring creek and performed a few snow pit tests with an ECTP21 with 2 failures at 25 cm and 70 cm.
Full Snow Observation ReportOver 15 slides spotted on our ride today. Both large and small. Mostly south facing slopes with a large one on a north facing slope. Several hills with visible cracking and ready to let loose.
Full Snow Observation Report