23-24

Weak snow at Bacon Rind

Date
Activity
Skiing

We toured into Bacon Rind which involved navigating downfall at the start which became easier as the snow got deeper. We found 2 feet of snow on the ground, all of it sugary facets capped with big feathers of surface hoar. We had no whumpfing or cracking and saw no avalanches. We dug 2 snowpits and got no breaks in our stability test because the weak, sugary snow did not have a denser slab sitting above it (ECTX). The danger is LOW, yet new snow, even a small amount, may ramp the danger up. For now, it is weak and stable. The skiing progressively got worse as we descended, which was no surprise. 

Region
Southern Madison
Location (from list)
Bacon Rind
Observer Name
Doug Chabot

Surface Hoar Buck ridge

Date
Activity
Snowmobiling

Advanced surface hoar lower elevation on buck. East aspect in the trees. Isolation In higher elevations.

Region
Northern Madison
Location (from list)
Buck Ridge

GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Tue Jan 2, 2024

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

<p>The most recent known avalanche in the advisory area occurred eight days ago in the Bridger Range (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29711"><strong><span>details</span></s…;), and signs of instability have tapered off. Generally safe avalanche conditions exist, and human-triggered avalanches are unlikely. Small slides in isolated areas and extreme terrain are possible.<span>&nbsp; </span></p>

<p>As I explained in my <a href="https://youtu.be/gJP7UA8qVqc"><strong><span>video</span></strong></a&gt; from Beehive Basin yesterday, a slab avalanche requires two characteristics within the snowpack: a relatively weak layer and an overlying slab of more cohesive snow. My ski partner succinctly said, “This snowpack is like my diet over the holidays… it’s all sugar!” As Alex saw yesterday in Cooke City and what we have seen across the advisory area, weeks of mostly sunny weather caused the overlying slab to transform into faceted snow. Lacking the requisite layer of cohesive snow, slab avalanches are unlikely. Alex provided excellent travel advice in his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvrdF4FpETs"><strong><span>video</span>…;, recommending that backcountry travelers stay in tune with changes in the snowpack while they travel by poking through it with poles and stepping off sleds or the established skin track to feel for isolated areas with more supportable snow. These or any area with collapsing or shooting cracks are locations where instability may remain.</p>

<p>The snowpack has weakened so much that small, loose snow avalanches consisting entirely of weak faceted snow are possible in steep terrain. Yesterday, a skier in Beehive Basin intentionally pushed a pile of these facets downhill in a small slide (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29744"><strong><span>photo and details</span></strong></a>). These small avalanches are dangerous in steep or technical terrain where they can push skiers or riders off cliffs or into obstacles such as rocks or trees.</p>

<p>Low danger <em>does not mean</em> no danger. Utilize standard travel precautions in and around avalanche terrain by carrying rescue gear, traveling one at a time on steep slopes while a partner watches from a safe location, and assessing the snowpack for isolated instability before committing to steep slopes.</p>

<p>The avalanche danger is rated LOW.</p>

Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events

Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out: Events and Education Calendar.

Every weekend in Cooke City: Friday at The Antlers at 7 p.m., Free Avalanche Awareness and Current Conditions talk, and Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Round Lake Warming Hut, Free Rescue Practice.

Republic Creek Field Day

Date
Activity
Skiing

We went south of Cooke City today and toured up Republic Creak towards Woody Ridge. Stepping off the skin track ski penetration was quite noticeable, sinking 6" or more and breaking trail through loud faceted snow. We began ascending the slope and found an area on a northwest-facing slope at 9300' to dig and assess the snowpack before continuing on steep potentially wind-loaded terrain. In our snowpit, we had ECTN 21/ECTP 22 results, we did another stability test with ECTN22 results on the same layer. 

We continued until we reached an area that had been previously wind-loaded and a cohesive slab could be felt. The depth of the snow never rarely exceeded the length of a ski pole so we were able to probe the snow to assess whether or not a slab was present. In one snow pit, we saw propagation, ECTP21, but just ten feet over stability tests yielded ECTX results. Walking around the area it seemed like this was an isolated case where a slab was present. 

After all this assessment we felt it was appropriate to enter avalanche terrain while maintaining good travel protocols by only exposing one person at a time on the slope and keeping eyes on each other from a safe location. While exiting the creek bottom I did remotely trigger a very small slab while crossing a snow bridge. 

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Republic Creek
Observer Name
Zach Peterson

Small Loose Snow Avalanche, Bear Basin

Bear Basin
Northern Madison
Code
L-ASc-R1-D1-O
Latitude
45.34530
Longitude
-111.37500
Notes

A skier intentionally pushed off a small, loose snow avalanche in Bear Basin. The slide consisted entirely of unconsolidated facets. 

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Loose-snow avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
c-A controlled or intentional release by the indicated trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Images
Loose Facet Avalanche
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year
23-24
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