Trip Planning for Northern Madison

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. 

From IG: Natural activity in Beehive Basin

From IG: "Natural activity in Beehive Basin"

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."

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

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

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

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."

Big Sky Ski Patrol triggered hard slab avalanches during their avalanche mitigation work. Photo: BSSP

The south face of Lone Mountain (Big Sky Ski Resort) on November 30, 2023. Photo: GNFAC

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

From IG: “Pine creek today, some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”

From IG: “Pine creek today (10/21), some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”

From obs. "Was out alpine climbing today and observed the north face of Blackmore had slid already."

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