Good morning. This is Alex Marienthal with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Forecast on Sunday, January 29th at 7:15 a.m. Today’s forecast is sponsored by Stronghold Fabrication, Gallatin Valley Snowmobile Association and Pine Edge Cabins. This forecast does not apply to operating ski areas.
This morning, there is no new snow, temperatures are negative teens to negative 20s F, and wind is 0-10 mph with gusts of 15-20 mph out of the east-northeast. Today will be partly cloudy with temperatures 5-15 degrees below zero F and northerly wind at 5-15 mph. A few snowflakes may fall the next couple days, but the next chance for significant snow is Tuesday.
Recent heavy snowfall has created dangerous avalanche conditions and human triggered avalanches are likely. The mountains near Bozeman and Big Sky received 2-4 feet of snow since Wednesday (2-4” of snow water equivalent), and an avalanche warning was issued on the last two days. The warning expired today, but the snowpack is still unstable with a variety of buried weak layers. Over the last two days, people reported many large natural and human-triggered avalanches:
- In the Bridger Range skiers remote triggered a slide near Fairy Lake, and a skier heard the rumbling of a large natural avalanche north of Bridger.
- In Hyalite, skiers reported naturals near Mt. Blackmore, a natural avalanche up Little Bear, and on Friday a skier in Lick Creek triggered a large slide (video).
- Near Big Sky we saw natural and rider triggered slides on Friday (Buck Ridge observation).
Near West Yellowstone and Cooke City, 1-3 feet of new snow (1-2” of snow water equivalent) did not cause an avalanche warning, but created similarly dangerous conditions as shown by reports of many large natural avalanches:
- Skiers and riders near Cooke City saw large slides near Daisy Pass (photos) and up Republic Creek (photos and details).
- Yesterday Doug and I looked at a fresh avalanche in Taylor Fork which broke on weak facets and surface hoar up to 2.5’ deep and 750’ wide (video, details and photos), and we saw many natural avalanches that broke 1-2’ deep in the new snow.
Similar avalanches can be triggered today, would have large consequences, and can be triggered on steep slopes or from lower angle terrain below steep slopes. Until the snowpack has adjusted to this recent storm, your safest plan is to avoid travel in avalanche terrain. Today, large human-triggered avalanches are likely and avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.
Please share avalanche, snowpack or weather observations via our website, email (mtavalanche@gmail.com), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).
Recent heavy snowfall has created dangerous avalanche conditions and human triggered avalanches are likely. Today, large avalanches can be triggered on steep slopes or from lower angle terrain below steep slopes. Until the snowpack has adjusted to this recent storm, your safest plan is to avoid travel in avalanche terrain.
KING AND QUEEN OF THE RIDGE, FEBRUARY 4TH
Do you like to hike? Do you like to ski? Then the King & Queen of the Ridge is for you. Hike, ski and raise money for the Friends of the Avalanche Center in their 2nd biggest fundraiser of the year. Join the effort to promote and support avalanche safety and awareness! Fundraising prizes for the top 5 individuals who raise over $500. No racing is necessary to compete for the fundraising prizes. Info is HERE. Race participants for the February 4th event must register separately with Bridger Bowl HERE.
Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events
Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out: Events and Education Calendar.
February 4, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., LIVINGSTON Avalanche Fundamentals. Information and course registration are HERE.
February 5, 10 a.m.-2p.m. Companion Rescue Clinic Field Day in the Bozeman area. Required Online Classroom Session at 6 p.m. on Feb 3. Information and course registration are HERE.
February 9, FREE Avalanche Awareness at REI Bozeman. More details to come.
February 11, 10 a.m.-2p.m. Companion Rescue Clinic Field Day in the Bozeman area. Required Online Classroom Session at 6 p.m. on Feb 10. Information and course registration are HERE.
Every Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Avalanche Rescue Training, drop in for any amount of time. Round Lake Warming Hut, Cooke City. Free.
Loss in the Outdoors, is a support group for those who have been affected by grief and loss related to outdoor pursuits. Check out the link for more information.
Check out the weather and avalanche log for a rundown of recent weather and avalanche conditions.