24-25
Wind Slabs on Saddle Peak
Date
Activity
Skiing
We toured up Saddle Peak from Schlasman's today, for the first time this season, to get our bearings on how the snowpack in this area is shaping up. We skied down Skyline ridge from the summit and saw evidence of previous wind loading. Small cornices exist at the ridge crest and the snow surface off the ridge was rippled by wind. Though it has been several days since the last storm, strong winds have been present all week, and many wind slabs sit on weak snow. Thus, skiing down, we steered clear of wind slabs on steep slopes, especially with the high consequence terrain with large cliffs and trees below us.
We dug a snowpit on an E aspect at 9070'. We found a 1' thick hard slab sitting on a foundation of faceted snow. We got an ECTP13 on an interface between this slab and a melt-freeze crust. We dug another snowpit at 8800', again on an E aspect; here we found a deeper and stronger snowpack.
Overall, we found quite variable snowpack depths and weak layer distribution. Currently, there is not widespread instability outside of recently developed wind slabs. Areas with a shallower snowpack (1-3 feet deep) had a consistent layer of faceted snow. Generally, these weak layers are not advanced, but we will continue to watch this snowpack setup once it is loaded with the weight of new snow.
Region
Bridger Range
Location (from list)
Saddle Peak
Observer Name
H. Darby
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Dec 14, 2024
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> are the primary concern today. Winds picked up again last night and drifting was observed yesterday (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/32391"><span><span><span><strong><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/32399"><span><span><span><strong><span… Creek</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/32394"><span><span><span><strong><span…;), so there will be fresh wind drifts that could avalanche today. There are also older drifts that have now bonded and are no longer an issue. Take the time to investigate and figure out what sort of drift you’re dealing with before committing to steep wind-loaded slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Stay tuned over the coming days, as Persistent Slab avalanches will likely become an issue as the widespread weak layers get loaded by new snow (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/EzT4DqH3wE0?feature=shared"><span><span><span><strong>… video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>,</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span> </span></span></strong></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/sites/default/files/snow_obs/2024-12/img_72… City photo</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
![https://www.mtavalanche.com/sites/default/files/snow_obs/2024-12/img_72…](https://www.mtavalanche.com/sites/default/files/snow_obs/2024-12/img_7248.jpeg"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span><span>Cooke){kind=link}
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>It’s going to start snowing in Island Park this morning and there could be 4-8” of new snow by sunset. With strong winds, this new snow will quickly drift into slabs deep enough to be problematic. These wind drifts will build on top of weak layers just below the old snow surface, so these </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slab avalanches </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>will be especially reactive (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/YblD2aRUE1M?feature=shared"><span><span><span><span><s…;
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger will quickly rise to MODERATE as it starts snowing this morning.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Snow flurries today may deposit a couple inches of new snow, but it shouldn’t be enough to increase the avalanche danger. There is plenty of weak snow (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCd4OIw-4IU"><span><span><span><span><s… Fork surface hoar video</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>), but in most places there isn’t enough of a slab on top to avalanche. Watch out for the isolated places where there are deeper drifts and an avalanche might be possible. If the snow comes in earlier and heavier than expected, the avalanche danger will quickly rise.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>For today, the avalanche danger is LOW.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events
Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out: Events and Education Calendar
Wind transporting snow on lick creek ridge
Date
Activity
Skiing
We observed snow being moved by wind out of the SW on the very top of lick creek meadow, as well as evidence of previous wind loading at the top of the NE facing side. We didn't get any whumphing or cracking in the spots we skied over.
We also noticed surface hoar in open areas in the approach and a sun crust on the SW facing slope.
Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Lick Creek
Variable conditions in Beehive and beyond
Date
Activity
Skiing
We toured into Beehive Basin today and managed to get eyes on aspects throughout Beehive, Bear, and S Fork Spanish Creek Basins. We found excellent turns in spots, variable conditions in others, and a whole lot of rocks still exposed. Gorgeous, clear skies lent themselves to good visibility. Temps were cold at the trailhead but warmed quickly. Winds were predominantly from the South, gusting strong and moving snow around at ridgetops and summits.
Winds seem have impacted upper elevations; low to mid elevations still held soft snow. Outside of true north-facing aspects, most other aspects have seen some wind effect and were in quite variable condition. In the hand pits I dug on several different aspects, I noted light snow atop either sun crusts or wind-blown layers, all with small but well-developed facets underneath. Gullies hold close to a meter of snow but generally, coverage seemed to be around half a meter in depth.
Slab formation was limited to upper elevation ridgelines and little pockets in couloirs. Generally very few signs of instability were seen beyond one small (R1 D1) wind slab avalanche that came down from a rocky, exposed part of the ridgeline into Bear Basin. No surface hoar was noted anywhere. All in all, a lovely day to spend in the Spanish Peaks!
Region
Northern Madison
Location (from list)
Beehive Basin
Observer Name
H. Darby