21-22

From obs (12/2/21): "Climbed Emigrant Peak from the Gold Prize trailhead via the NW Ridge. As with the rest of the advisory zones, it is dry in the Absarokas. Snow still remains lower in the trees from past storms and, on the ridge, certain pockets have over two feet of wind blown snow. Yet the ridge itself as well as common ski descents to the NW and SE are both quite rocky. Poked around at about 9750 ft on the leeward side of the NW ridge and found an expected wind slab layer with faceted snow underneath it.


Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Dec 3, 2021
Out of Advisory Area, 2021-12-03
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    • Emigrant Peak

    Date

    Climbed Emigrant Peak from the Gold Prize trailhead via the NW Ridge. As with the rest of the advisory zones, it is dry in the Absarokas. Snow still remains lower in the trees from past storms and, on the ridge, certain pockets have over two feet of wind blown snow. Yet the ridge itself as well as common ski descents to the NW and SE are both quite rocky. Poked around at about 9750 ft on the leeward side of the NW ridge and found an expected wind slab layer with faceted snow underneath it. Lower down at 9200 ft at treeline, I found a shallow snowpack with two distinct crusts near the ground. Both crusts had faceted snow above and below them.

    Region
    Out of Advisory Area
    Location (from list)
    Emigrant Peak
    Observer Name
    Haylee Darby

    home office

    Date
    Activity
    Snowmobiling

    This time from Mac / Safari. Previous was Mac / FF

    Region
    Cooke City
    Observer Name
    jim again

    here at home

    Date
    Activity
    Snowboarding

    will it submit?

    Region
    Out of Advisory Area
    Location (from list)
    Black Butte- Gravelly Range
    Observer Name
    Jimbo tester

    GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Nov 29, 2021

    Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

    <p>While the long fall continues in the valleys of Southwest Montana, this season’s snowpack is developing in the mountains (albeit painfully slowly) and we are well into avalanche season. This weekend skiers in Beehive Basin and Hyalite Canyon observed small slab avalanches resulting from recent wind loading and pinwheels that indicate surface snow warming (<a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/windslab-and-pinwheels-beehive-basin-… photo</u></strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/small-wind-slab-avalanche-hyalite-can… 1</u></strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/shooting-cracks-mt-blackmore"><strong…;). Strong winds through the middle of the week will drift soft snow into unstable slabs that you should avoid. The better coverage found on wind-drifted slopes may entice us, but this is where avalanches are most likely to occur.</p>

    <p>While the snowpack structure varies on the slope scale, we know weak layers, like the one that Alex describes in his <a href="https://youtu.be/oF8q1tMQuh8"><strong><u>video</u></strong></a&gt; from Cooke City, exist across the advisory area. Skiers are reporting them from snowpits in the Bridger, Gallatin, and Madison Ranges (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/sites/default/files/styles/very_large_1200w… 1</u></strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/shallow-snowpack-bridger-range"><stro…;). Carefully evaluate snowpack stability and the consequences of getting caught in an avalanche with sharp rocks just inches below you. Terrain traps such as trees, cliffs, rocks, and gullies exacerbate these consequences.</p>

    <p>We appreciate the observations you all have submitted this season. You are helping us develop a more complete understanding of this season’s snowpack by submitting observations <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>here<…;. Now, THINK SNOW!</p>

    <p>We are preparing for winter, teaching avalanche classes, and setting up weather stations. If you have avalanche, snowpack or weather observations to share please submit them via our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>websi…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong><u>mtavalanche@gmail.com</u></str…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>

    Upcoming Education Opportunities:

    Get your avalanche brain ready for the season at one of the many classes listed on our education calendar, and list of upcoming events below. Don’t delay preparing and inspecting your avalanche gear. Get some tips from Dave Zinn in this Pre-Season gear check video.

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