Alex Marienthal found unstable snow in Beehive at 8,700' on a SE facing slope. Test scores were ECTP 12, 5, V. All breaks were on the large facets in the middle of the snowpack. We also had lots of whumpfs, which is the snow collapsing under our body weight, and a very bad sign.
Trip Planning for Northern Madison
Past 5 Days

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Moderate

Considerable

Considerable

Considerable
Relevant Avalanche Activity

Elevation: 8,700
Aspect: SE
Coordinates: 45.3407, -111.3910
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
We skied into Beehive Basin today and found unstable snow. The bottom half of the 1.5' snowpack is weak, sugary facets that collapsed with audible "whumpfs" as we toured up. We dug at 8,700' on a SE aspect (a few hundred meters up valley of Tyler's slope) and the snowpit revealed a poor snow structure and instability. Even though some ranges have more snow, the set up is the same: weak, unstable snow underlying new snow. Avalanches, whumpfs and cracking are warning us to be careful throughout our entire forecast area.
More Avalanche Details

N
Coordinates: 45.3407, -111.3910
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
Skiers in Beehive basin observed a natural avalanche on Saturday 12/9
More Avalanche Details

AS
Coordinates: 44.8692, -111.2390
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
Skiers in the Southern Madison, Lionhead, and Northern Madison areas experienced widespread cracking and collapsing on Saturday 12/9.
More Avalanche Details
Relevant Photos
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From IG: Natural activity in Beehive Basin
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From IG: "Natural activity in Beehive Basin"
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From obs: "Windier then I expected today at me d elevations adjacent to Bridger ... Photos show lots of wind transport during the day. Felt a few collapses while skinning."
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Big Sky Ski Patrol intentionally ski cut an avalanche breaking on the weak snow near the ground during avalanche mitigation work on 12/8/23.
From email: "[An avalanche] released on a ski cut, breaking on facets above a basal crust, easterly aspect, just below tree line."
Photo: BSSP
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From email:
"While grooming the xc trails in Beaver Creek drainage last night, I observed extensive cracking and collapsing in the 12"+ of new snow. Essentially every slope above the trail would fail as I approached them, some breaking up to 30' away. I know it's not a good sign but was cool to watch.
7,5k'-7,9k' mostly North facing aspect.
Yesterday's addition here was right side up with the initial snow coming in very wet and heavy, while ending in a light fluffy topping which is now getting blown around. Additional trace overnight and currently snowing again at 8am. " Photo: J. Gerardi
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From email:
"While grooming the xc trails in Beaver Creek drainage last night, I observed extensive cracking and collapsing in the 12"+ of new snow. Essentially every slope above the trail would fail as I approached them, some breaking up to 30' away. I know it's not a good sign but was cool to watch.
7,5k'-7,9k' mostly North facing aspect.
Yesterday's addition here was right side up with the initial snow coming in very wet and heavy, while ending in a light fluffy topping which is now getting blown around. Additional trace overnight and currently snowing again at 8am. " Photo: J. Gerardi
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Natural avalanche in closed terrain at Big Sky Ski Resort on 12/7/23. Photo: BSSP
"A large natural slide came down from 3rd Fork, stepped down in the Elbow and again in the cone, and ran almost to the runout of Obsidian. Naturals came out of most of the Headwaters, with both Firehole and Hellroaring stepping down into old snow in the cones."
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Big Sky Ski Patrol triggered hard slab avalanches during their avalanche mitigation work. Photo: BSSP
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The south face of Lone Mountain (Big Sky Ski Resort) on November 30, 2023. Photo: GNFAC
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Today (11/30/23) we looked at the snowpack in the northern Madison Range/Big Sky area. At 9,300' on a northeast aspect there was around a foot of snow (30-45cm) which is mostly weak layers of facets. When the mountains get more snow we expect avalanches to break on this weak snow. Photo: GNFAC
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From IG: “Pine creek today, some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”
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From IG: “Pine creek today (10/21), some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”
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From obs. "Was out alpine climbing today and observed the north face of Blackmore had slid already."
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8800' Camera, Lone Peak view
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Weather Stations- Northern Madison
Weather Forecast Northern Madison
Extended Forecast for5 Miles NNW Big Sky MT
Winter Weather Advisory until December 10, 05:00pmClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Weather Advisory-
Winter Weather Advisory until December 10, 05:00pm
NOW until
5:00pm SunWinter Weather Advisory
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This
AfternoonSnow Likely
High: 23 °F
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Tonight
Snow Likely
then Chance
SnowLow: 17 °F
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Monday
Snow Likely
High: 24 °F
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Monday
NightMostly Cloudy
Low: 11 °F
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Tuesday
Mostly Sunny
High: 24 °F
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Tuesday
NightMostly Clear
Low: 10 °F
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Wednesday
Sunny
High: 28 °F
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Wednesday
NightMostly Clear
Low: 14 °F
The Last Word
Listen to GNFAC Forecaster Dave Zinn on the Hoary Marmot Podcast for some extracurricular avalanche talk (link to episode).