24-25

Mixed Bag of Surface Conditions in Beehive

Date
Activity
Skiing

We toured Beehive Basin up to the prayer flags and dropped into Bear Basin. We dug one full pit in the starting zone of Tyler's (1m of snow, ECTP28 on basal facets - rough/non-planar fracture) but were primarily looking at surface conditions. 

The surface evolved throughout the day, so we must continue tracking its progression. We found surface hoar in the valley of Beehive, where inverted temperatures were the coldest, crusts with near-surface facets below, and some straight near-surface facet—recycled powder, along with thicker crust and wet snow. 

The warmer temperatures at higher elevations that came with the inversion are saving us from worse faceting. When we returned to the vehicle, the surface hoar had burned off in the warming temperatures, and others were moist. 

Surface conditions will continue to evolve but probably won't get stronger in the coming days. The good news is that the surface is holding up better than I expected. 

Region
Northern Madison
Location (from list)
Beehive Basin
Observer Name
Dave Zinn

Wide spread layer of SH Two Top

Date
Activity
Snowmobiling

Wide spread layer of Surface Hoar mid and upper elevations Two Top area

Region
Island Park
Location (from list)
Two Top
Observer Name
Kevin Allred

Surface Conditions in Hyalite

Date
Activity
Skiing

Large surface hoar across a variety of elevations and aspects at Lick Creek. It was 2-5mm large and present on almost all flats and non-solar aspects, and from the road up to 8500 ft and above. The most recent snow was wetting out on the solars, and temperatures were well above freezing at my car when I got back to it in the early afternoon.

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Lick Creek
Observer Name
Wyatt Hubbard

Ellis Obs

Date
Activity
Skiing

Toured up Ellis. Observed well-preserved surface hoar in meadows and on the ridgeline on NE aspects. MF crust starting to form on SE aspects. Dug at 8230’ on an ESE aspect. HS 120. Found the buried surface hoar layer from a few weeks ago down 25cm. Got collapsing but no propagation on this layer. Beautiful day!

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Mt Ellis
Observer Name
E. Donahue

GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Wed Jan 29, 2025

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Watch for two things today:</span></span></strong></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>1 - Small wet loose avalanches </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>may happen on sunny slopes especially ones with exposed rocks that add extra heat to the snow. These small slides will mostly be an issue if you’re in confined gullies.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>2 - Wind slabs</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> should mostly have bonded to underlying snow, BUT some wind slabs may be resting on faceted snow that formed during cold, dry weather on MLK weekend. These wind slabs resting on facets may remain unstable. This is mostly an isolated problem, and the challenge is that there is no way of identifying them. Avoiding any spot that appears to have previously drifted snow is a good solution. The most recent wind slab avalanches happened on </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33871"><span><span><span><span><span><… in Hyalite</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, another in </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33880"><span><span><span><span><span><… on Sunday</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, and one on </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33859"><span><span><span><span><span><… in the Bridger Range</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>If you do get onto a slope with some old wind slabs</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, consider the consequences of triggering one and select slopes with a smooth, clean runout with no rocks, trees, or terrain traps.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>** In southern parts of the forecast area, persistent slab avalanches are unlikely. By next week this could change with significant snowfall and wind.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Don’t let your guard down today </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>because</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span> </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>you can still find unstable snow in isolated areas. Otherwise avalanche conditions are generally safe and the danger is LOW.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

KING AND QUEEN OF THE RIDGE

Join us for the King & Queen of the Ridge this Saturday at Bridger Bowl! Hike, ride and help us raise money. It’s a blast! Fundraising prizes for the top 5 individuals who raise over $500. No racing is necessary to compete for the fundraising prizes.

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