22-23

Went on a tour today with a buddy to check out the snow conditions in the Bridgers. We found cold temps and steady blowing wind while climbing up to saddle, actively loading the east aspect up high. Was able to stomp on new drifts/cornices and see wind slabs crack and go. These slabs didnt propagate more than 6 inches deep, and they moved very slow down hill. Creamy snow conditions but overall looking good (except the rocks). Cheers!

E-NE 8500ft

Whoomping collapsing and cracking throughout the day  

Wind loading on S slopes 

30cm storm snow

10cm small facets

Rimed weather station on Sawtelle Peak. 11/17/22. Photo: GNFAC

We went down to Sawtelle Peak to do some work on one of our weather stations. Lots of rime on the peak.

While we were down there, we dug a pit to see how the snowpack is developing in the Island Park area. Some wind drifting, but not super dramatic. Dug on an east aspect around 9000 ft off the Sawtelle Peak Road. Snowpack depth was around 4 ft. ECTX results.

It's still early season, but for now we're happy with how the foundation of the winter's snowpack is shaping up.

Shooting cracks and whumpfing observed at Red Lodge Mountain on Little Tree run. Rapid loading with 12"- 15" inches of fresh snow in the last 14 hours along with evidence of wind-loading (drifts and wind-scouring). 

I have been cruising around Hyalite climbing a good deal the last week, and have gotten some good looks up high as well. As you have probably observed as well, things are well set up for this time of year. Snow depths are 50-100cm, right side up, and there has not been much wind transport. Although there has been a good deal of waist deep trail breaking, it's due to there being a lot of new snow, not facet wallowing! Gully features lack a slab, and we have not observed any signs of instability in either Flanders or the Main Fork. There has been a fairly constant trickle of new precip up there, and surface conditions have consistently been precip particles and DFs, although we have occasionally observed surface hoar below treeline. Sam