Trip Planning for Northern Gallatin

as of 5:00 am
Today6″ |
Apr 16 0″ | 10-30 W
Apr 15 0″ | 15-30 W
9982′     04/15 at 15:00
63.2℉
NW - 0mph
Gusts 3 mph
8100′     04/17 at 08:00
20℉
Depth
Primary Problem: Wind Slab
Bottom Line: Wind slab avalanches will also be a concern in the Gallatin and Madison Ranges but with less new snow they will be shallower. Otherwise, riding slopes untouched by winds may be “dust on crust” and there will only be minor sluffing of the new snow on the hard icy surface underneath.

Past 5 Days

Sun Apr 13

Low
Mon Apr 14

Low
Tue Apr 15

Moderate
Wed Apr 16

Moderate
Today

Moderate

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • We went through Flanders' Creek to the Flanders Weather Station to pull it for the season. We descended to the Grotto Falls TH via the Winter Dance Route. The surface snow got wet as the day progressed, but we saw no wet snow avalanche activity. I wouldn't be surprised if there was limited activity as the day progressed.

    Recent warm temperatures have almost universally affected snow surfaces. North-facing slopes above 9500' elevation remain dry, and pockets of dry snow exist at lower elevations on shaded slopes. South-facing slopes have cycled a few times, and the corn snow is coming in reasonably well. 

    There were no signs of dry snow instability. Photo: GNFAC

  • The 12" of snow since yesterday fell right-side-up and had little to no slab properties. This new snow rests on a stout melt-freeze crust from the high temperatures last week. Photo: GNFAC

  • Understanding Avalanche Safety Preparedness – 5-Minute Survey for Motorized Users

    We need your input! Eastern Oregon University is conducting a survey to better understand avalanche safety preparedness among motorized backcountry users like you. Your feedback will help us learn more about who is purchasing and practicing with avalanche rescue gear (beacon, probe, shovel) and participating in avalanche education—and why some riders aren’t.  The survey is confidential and anonymous.  

    Your feedback is invaluable in improving avalanche education and awareness. Please take a moment to share your experience and help us make a difference.

    https://eoustmhs.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3L8QKAuZzcxJBLo

    Thank you for your time and for being a part of this important effort!

  • This small wind slab avalanche failed on Mt Blackmore on Sunday. Photo: C Rendeiro

     

  • Debris pile from a small wind slab avalanche on Mt Blackmore. Photo: C Rendeiro
     

     

  • From obs: "Multiple natural loose avalanches in the steep terrain of mt Blackmore. All originated at the base of cliffs or trees. Counted 4 prominent ones."

    Photo: M. Stern

  • Saw lots of small loose avalanches on Mt Blackmore and nearby slopes, some appeared to be natural and others skier triggered. We saw multiple dry loose on N and E aspects and a wet loose on a southeast aspect. Photo: H Meyers

  • Saw lots of small loose avalanches on Mt Blackmore and nearby slopes, some appeared to be natural and others skier triggered. We saw multiple dry loose on N and E aspects and a wet loose on a southeast aspect. Photo: H Meyers

  • "Toured up Flanders Creek to the main cirque. I was wondering what the snow surface was doing with the high pressure. I dug a pit on a NNW aspect at 8900'. HS 205cm, light SW wind, clear skies and air temp was 2.1 C at 4pm. Dust layer was down 60cm from the surface.

    I didn't get any propagating results in my pit and the snowpack was right side up. I did notice a strong temperature gradient in the top few centimeters of snow. I only found this on sheltered, shaded slopes with dry powdery snow. I did not find a strong temp gradient or facets in dense wind affected snow. Something to keep in mind if we get a big dump of snow in the near future." Photo: B. Oackes

  • Ridge line just west of divide peak in Hyalite canyon. Photo: O Silitch

  • Saw a fairly fresh avalanche up Hyalite from the top of the Fat and Skinny Maids, I think that would put the avalanche in the Storm Castle Creek basin. Photo: F Miller

  • Pictures of two cornice triggered avalanches way up the South Cottonwood drainage that was viewed from Alex Lowe. Looks to be in the recent days, around 9,000 feet North facing. Photo: S Lipsteuer

  • A massive cornice had cracked and was slowly making its way towards falling down. Cornice was around 50 feet long, and largely overhanging. Photo: S Lipsteuer

  • A massive cornice that has cracked and is slowly making its way towards falling down. Cornice was around 50 feet long, and largely overhanging. On the standard ascent of the East Ridge of Alex Lowe, the skin track usually travels below this cornice while ascending to the ridge. Photo S Lipsteuer

  • This older wet slide is a good example of what to look out for especially at low elevations.

  • This older wet slide is a good example of what to look out for especially at low elevations.

  • Cornice release above the headwaters of storm castle creek which triggered a slab, east facing aspect.  Looked to be several feet deep and ran a long way.

     

     

  • Cornice triggered slab avalanche, maybe wind slab. Hard to say.

     

     

  • Total snow depth on a NE aspect was 230 cm (7.5 ft). Right side up and strong. Dust layer from Feb 4th was 70 cm deep (28 inches) with no facets under it. 

  • Clean up on aisle hyalite!  Couple small wet slides between the retaining wall and practice rock, big enough to reduce the road to one lane. Photo: K. Marvinney

  • From obs.: "Saw a recent cornice triggered wind slab off of Hardscrabble Peak, crown looked fairly fresh. There was a second crown line below the rock band. Conditions were very windy, with snow still being transported. Most snow surfaces were wind affected, but saw no cracking or collapsing." Photo: F. Miller

  • From obs: "2/17 Immediately noticed signs of wind loading and wind slabs on NE-E aspects once in the basin. New cornices have formed in the last couple days along the North ridge to the summit. Cornice collapse on the summit triggered a small wind slab on an isolated slope." Photo: R. Rintala

  • From obs: "2/17 Immediately noticed signs of wind loading and wind slabs on NE-E aspects once in the basin. New cornices have formed in the last couple days along the North ridge to the summit. Cornice collapse on the summit triggered a small wind slab on an isolated slope." Photo: R. Rintala

  • SS-ASc-R1-D.5-I 

    310 Degrees  NW

    8129ft

     

    Photo: Tagg Cole

  • Storm slab avalanche between Blackmore and Elephant. Photo: Anonymous

  • Saw a small natural slide that started at the bottom of Cyptorchid. Crown was 10' wide and 8-18" deep, it ran 150' down a very shallow slope and covered the climbers trail. Photo: R Beck

  • Saw a small natural slide that started at the bottom of Cyptorchid. Crown was 10' wide and 8-18" deep, it ran 150' down a very shallow slope and covered the climbers trail. Photo: R Beck 

  • Triggered a small wind slab avalanche on the east face of mt Blackmore today at 9850 ft elevation. Around 5 inches thick, ~ 20 ft wide, and ran for 100 ft. Photo: I Masi

  • Triggered a small wind slab avalanche on the east face of mt Blackmore today at 9850 ft elevation. Around 5 inches thick, ~ 20 ft wide, and ran for 100 ft. Photo: I Masi

  • Cold temps and sunny days starting to create some surface hoar forming seen on the primary ridge of big Ellis. Surface hoar was less widely distributed on the primary ski zone but was present all along the top of the ridge. Photo: K Gordon 

  • I went skate skiing up Sourdough Canyon today. The trail intersects many south and southwest-facing avalanche terrains that generally do not have much snow coverage due to their exposure to the sun. 

    However, the snowpack is much deeper than normal in the Gallatin Valley and in the low-elevation mountains around the Valley, and these slopes make me nervous, especially because they would impact a trail that sees heavy use by people who do not intend to expose themselves to avalanches and who are not prepared for avalanche rescue. 

    Currently, 2.5 to 4 feet of snow is in the terrain near the trail. 

    Photo: GNFAC

     

  • I went skate skiing up Sourdough Canyon today. The trail intersects many south and southwest-facing avalanche terrains that generally do not have much snow coverage due to their exposure to the sun. 

    However, the snowpack is much deeper than normal in the Gallatin Valley and in the low-elevation mountains around the Valley, and these slopes make me nervous, especially because they would impact a trail that sees heavy use by people who do not intend to expose themselves to avalanches and who are not prepared for avalanche rescue. 

    Photo: GNFAC

     

  • At the base of G2 I triggered a 3 inch x 100 foot soft slab. Photo: D Chabot

  • Most notable test result was ECTP16 down 35 cm on a layer of surface hoar. Photo: E Heiman

  • Most notable test result was ECTP16 down 35 cm on a layer of surface hoar. Photo: E Heiman

  • Three to four inches of new snow from yesterday sat on top of the dust layer that got deposited across most of the forecast area on Monday and Tuesday. Photo: GNFAC

  • There was evidence of several R1-2/ D1-2 wind slab avalanches that likely ran this weekend on the east face of Blackmore. Photo: GNFAC

Videos- Northern Gallatin

WebCams


Bozeman Pass, Looking SE

Snowpit Profiles- Northern Gallatin

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Forecast Northern Gallatin

Extended Forecast for

14 Miles SE Gallatin Gateway MT

Winter Storm Warning April 17, 09:41am until April 18, 12:00amClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Storm Warning
  •   Winter Storm Warning April 17, 09:41am until April 18, 12:00am

    NOW until 12:00am Fri

    Winter Storm Warning

  • Today

    High: 21 °F

    Heavy Snow
    and Areas
    Blowing Snow

  • Tonight

    Tonight: A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. Wind chill values as low as zero. North northeast wind 12 to 17 mph decreasing to 6 to 11 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.  New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    Low: 10 °F

    Chance Snow
    Showers

  • Friday

    Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 26. North wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

    High: 26 °F

    Partly Sunny

  • Friday Night

    Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 16. North northwest wind 6 to 9 mph becoming south southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.

    Low: 16 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 42. South southwest wind around 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

    High: 42 °F

    Sunny

  • Saturday Night

    Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.  Little or no snow accumulation expected.

    Low: 28 °F

    Chance Snow
    Showers

  • Sunday

    Sunday: Snow showers likely, mainly after noon. Some thunder is also possible.  Partly sunny, with a high near 39. South southwest wind 6 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

    High: 39 °F

    Chance Snow
    Showers then
    Snow Showers
    Likely

  • Sunday Night

    Sunday Night: Snow showers likely, mainly before midnight. Some thunder is also possible.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West southwest wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

    Low: 26 °F

    Snow Showers
    Likely

The Last Word

Bridger Bowl Ski Area is closed for the season, and uphill travel is allowed. Please give employees and machinery plenty of room as they work to clean up from the season. Backcountry conditions will develop as spring storms impact the range. There are no ski patrol services, avalanche mitigation or terrain closures as conditions evolve. Call 911 for any incidents requiring outside assistance.  

Our last daily avalanche forecast will be Sunday, April 20th. We will issue updates on Mondays and Fridays through the end of April.

04 / 16 / 25  <<  
 
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