Photos

We met up with the Fugawee Snowmobile Club, Idaho Parks and Recreation, and Klim to install new beacon checkers at the trailhead in Island Park. Great work to the team! Photos: GNFAC

Fugawee Snowmobile Club Assembling New Beacon Checkers. Photo: Kent

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

Skiers on Woodward Mountain noted sensative wind slabs and shooting cracks on Saturday. While the slabs were thin, they chose to avoid consequential avalanche terrain due to the signs of instability. Photo: E Heiman

We climbed to the Upper Mummy's (west facing) and found relatively little snow at 9,000'. Gullies that usually fill in from wind-loading were not showing much depth. HS was less than 6 inches on the hike up (see pic). Across the valley looking at Elephant and Palace Butte, the bowls were snow covered, but barely (pic). Lower elevation, east facing slopes were mostly mostly dirt.

The avalanche danger is non-existent on most slopes. The exception would be high elevation gullies that happened to get wind drifts, but these are not widespread.

Wind was calm and skies were sunny, with an air temp in the teens F.

We climbed to the Upper Mummy's (west facing) and found relatively little snow at 9,000'. Gullies that usually fill in from wind-loading were not showing much depth. HS was less than 6 inches on the hike up (see pic). Across the valley looking at Elephant and Palace Butte, the bowls were snow covered, but barely (pic). Lower elevation, east facing slopes were mostly mostly dirt.

The avalanche danger is non-existent on most slopes. The exception would be high elevation gullies that happened to get wind drifts, but these are not widespread.

Wind was calm and skies were sunny, with an air temp in the teens F.

The mountains look good with a fresh coat of paint, but the snow cover remains thin. Photo: GNFAC

Went to do maintenance on the Sawtelle Snowfall weather station at 8800 ft just off the Sawtelle Mountain Road. Continuous snowcover starts around 8000 ft. At 8800 ft there is ~20" of snow with a mix of hard crusts and weak facets. These weak layers near the ground will be something to watch once snows again. Photo: GNFAC

Went to do maintenance on the Sawtelle Snowfall weather station at 8800 ft just off the Sawtelle Mountain Road. Continuous snowcover starts around 8000 ft. At 8800 ft there is ~20" of snow with a mix of hard crusts and weak facets. These weak layers near the ground will be something to watch once snows again. Photo: GNFAC

Went to do maintenance on the Sawtelle Snowfall weather station at 8800 ft just off the Sawtelle Mountain Road. Continuous snowcover starts around 8000 ft. At 8800 ft there is ~20" of snow with a mix of hard crusts and weak facets. These weak layers near the ground will be something to watch once snows again. Photo: GNFAC

Skiers reported triggering an avalanche on the east face of Mt. Blackmore on Sunday. Photo: Anonymous

Skiers reported triggering an avalanche on the east face of Mt. Blackmore on Sunday. Photo: Anonymous

Bear tracks in the wind-eroded snow. Photo: B Fredlund

Avalanches on Henderson Mountain near Cooke City were reported via instagram on 11/9/2023. Estimating they occurred a day earlier. 

From message: "on Henderson in Cooke just above the lulu trail. It was surprising to see so much activity"

Photo: A. Mulkey

Avalanches on Henderson Mountain near Cooke City were reported via instagram on 11/9/2023. Estimating they occurred a day earlier. 

From message: "on Henderson in Cooke just above the lulu trail. It was surprising to see so much activity"

Photo: A. Mulkey

Skier triggered windslab in the Great One off of Naya Nuki peak, skier was carried 15-20ft before arresting. Slide was triggered roughly halfway down the couloir where the right wall dips away exposing the snow to wind. Hard consolidated snow over facets, roughly 1-1.5 ft thick, ran about 50-100 ft before pouring over the cliff faces below. North- northeast aspect. Photo: J. Alford 11/8/2023

Skier triggered windslab in the Great One off of Naya Nuki peak, skier was carried 15-20ft before arresting. Slide was triggered roughly halfway down the couloir where the right wall dips away exposing the snow to wind. Hard consolidated snow over facets, roughly 1-1.5 ft thick, ran about 50-100 ft before pouring over the cliff faces below. North- northeast aspect. Photo: J. Alford 11/8/2023

Skier triggered windslab in the Great One off of Naya Nuki peak, skier was carried 15-20ft before arresting. Slide was triggered roughly halfway down the couloir where the right wall dips away exposing the snow to wind. Hard consolidated snow over facets, roughly 1-1.5 ft thick, ran about 50-100 ft before pouring over the cliff faces below. North- northeast aspect. Photo: J. Alford 11/8/2023

A hiker at Bridger Bowl noticed a small, loose snow avalanche near the Apron. Noting that it was a, "Good reminder as to how little snow is required to have an avalanche!" Photo: A Crawford