Trip Planning for Southern Madison

as of 5:00 am
Today0″ | 15-25 SW
Mar 23 0″ | 10-15 S
Mar 22 1″ | 5-10 NE
9460′     03/24 at 04:00
13.6℉
SW - 11mph
Gusts 17 mph
9000′     03/24 at 04:00
18℉
87″ Depth
Bottom Line: The most likely scenario is triggering relatively small avalanches within the 5-9” of snow that fell earlier this week. The complexity of the terrain will primarily dictate the severity of the consequences. The less likely deep slab avalanche problem is more vicious. If you take your chances with low-probability, high-consequence deep slabs, be obsessed with the potential consequences. Rely on your safe travel protocols, choose smaller slopes rather than large ones, and select less wind-loaded terrain.
Primary Problem: Persistent Weak Layer

Past 5 Days

Sun Mar 19

Moderate
Mon Mar 20

Moderate
Tue Mar 21

Moderate
Wed Mar 22

Moderate
Thu Mar 23

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Southern Madison
Tepee Basin
Natural Avalanches Tepee Basin
Tepee Basin
SS-N-R2-D2-U
Elevation: 9,400
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 44.9041, -111.1850
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

We saw two natural avalanches with a brief period of better visibility. Both appeared to release within the new snow or at the interface. 1-3 feet deep. The large appeared to run about 500' vertical. 


More Avalanche Details
Southern Madison
Taylor Fork
Natural Avalanche, Head of Sage Creek
Incident details include images
Incident details contain video
Taylor Fork
HS-N-R3-D2.5-O
Elevation: 9,200
Aspect: N
Coordinates: 45.0607, -111.2720
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

We investigated an avalanche that broke naturally approximately one week ago on a north facing slope at the head of Sage Creek. 


More Avalanche Details
Southern Madison
Taylor Fork
Natural Avalanche Sage Basin
Incident details include images
Incident details contain video
Taylor Fork
HS-NC-R3-D2-O
Elevation: 9,200
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 44.9513, -111.3140
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

On our ride up the Taylor Fork, we saw several natural avalanches that appeared to have broken about a week ago. This avalanche was in Sage Basin.


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • On our ride up the Taylor Fork, we saw several natural avalanches that appeared to have broken about a week ago. This avalanche was in Sage Basin. Photo: GNFAC

  • On our ride up the Taylor Fork, we saw several natural avalanches that appeared to have broken about a week ago. This avalanche was at the head of Sage Creek. Here, Alex is investigating the layering within the snowpack that lead to the avalanche. Photo: GNFAC

  • On our ride up the Taylor Fork, we saw several natural avalanches that appeared to have broken about a week ago. This avalanche was in Sage Basin. Photo: GNFAC

  • On our ride up the Taylor Fork, we saw several natural avalanches that appeared to have broken about a week ago. This avalanche was in Sunlight Basin. Photo: GNFAC

  • On our ride up the Taylor Fork, we saw several natural avalanches that appeared to have broken about a week ago. This avalanche was in Sunlight Basin. Photo: GNFAC

  • We saw a natural avalanche near Bacon Rind into the Gallatin River. Photo: GNFAC

  • Skiers noted a 1-2’ deep slide on the west-facing road cut just north of the Bacon Rind pullout. Photo: S Reinsel

  • Skiers noted an avalanche on Red Mountain that spanned about 2000’. They estimated it was 1-3’ deep in the newer snow, for the most part, but a portion of it broke 15’+ deep and ran at the ground. Photo: S Reinsel

  • Skiers noted an avalanche on Red Mountain that spanned about 2000’. They estimated it was 1-3’ deep in the newer snow, for the most part, but a portion of it broke 15’+ deep and ran at the ground. Photo: S Reinsel

  • Via IG: “Large natural avalanche on the east side of redstreak peak down near West Yellowstone. 

    And then another natural one right on the shoulder of white peak on the boundary.” Photo: S. Mooney

     

  • Via IG: “Large natural avalanche on the east side of redstreak peak down near West Yellowstone. 

    And then another natural one right on the shoulder of white peak on the boundary.” Photo: S. Mooney

     

  • From IG message: "3 different slides lionhead area. One was very big the run out was 20 feet tall and quarter mile long" Photo: T. Urell

  • Across the road from Bacon Rind at 7,070' on a west facing slope I saw a small skier triggered slide that ran into the Gallatin River. 

  • On Buck Ridge today (3/5/23) we found fresh, unstable drifts. This fresh slab was 4-6" deep. Cracking like this is a sign that wind slabs will avalanche on steeper slopes. Photo: GNFAC

  • Skier triggered avalanche on Elephant Mtn. 3/4/23. SS-ASu-R2-D1.5-I

    Vertical Fall: ~700' Distance Traveled: ~1000' Aspect: 15 N Elevation of start zone: 9645'

  • Skier triggered deep slab avalanche on NE face of Hyalite Peak 3/4/23.

  • A cornice collapsed on Monday, triggering an avalanche on the slope below. Dave Zinn assesses the layers in the flank. Photo: GNFAC

  • A cornice collapsed on Monday triggering an avalanche on the slope below. Photo: GNFAC

  • A rider triggered an avalanche on a small slope in the Cabin Creek area. Photo: K Bye

  • A rider triggered an avalanche on a small slope in the Cabin Creek area. Photo: K Bye

  • From IG: Skiers near Mt. Blackmore on 2/24 saw a large avalanche on the east side of Mt. Blackmore that appeared to have happened in the last 24 hours.

  • From email 2/24/23: "Came across this very large cornice that appeared to have broken naturally sometime in the past 24 hours. Saw a few others that had broken recently throughout our tour, but none as large as this." E. Heiman

  • From email 2/24/23: "Triggered a small 2’ deep wind slab in new snow this afternoon.  NNE aspect 9,500’, approximately 38° slope.  Riding was excellent on all high North facing slopes and this was the only sign of instability we saw all day.  Wind was howling on the way out, lots of snow coming out of the trees and transporting at ridge tops."

  • "Seemed to be a decent sized slide runoff was pretty deep where it stopped in the trees figured it was probably two days old. Southwest facing. Roughly 44.86695° N, 111.24123° W"

  • From obs: "This afternoon my group of 4 was riding up out of Tepee Creek heading towards Cabin Creek and I set off this small slide on a northeast facing slope as I was coming down it. The slide broke about a foot deep on top of the packed layer of snow and was 150-200' wide at the crown. Thankfully it slid slowly, less than 100' and I was able to ride out of it. '

  • From obs: "This afternoon my group of 4 was riding up out of Tepee Creek heading towards Cabin Creek and I set off this small slide on a northeast facing slope as I was coming down it. The slide broke about a foot deep on top of the packed layer of snow and was 150-200' wide at the crown. Thankfully it slid slowly, less than 100' and I was able to ride out of it. '

  • From IG message: "Another one today. Back of buck creek. Triggered 100 yards above where I crossed below it in the safe zone, after I went by. No burials."

  • Surface hoar can often be seen as a grey stripe on the wall of your snowpit as was the case at Bacon Rind in the Southern Madison Range on 1/23. Photo: GNFAC

  • From Big Sky Ski Patrol 1/21/23: "skier triggered a surface wind slab in Wyoming Bowl that broke 8-12” deep. It propagated to an estimated 150’ wide- SS, R1/D1.5... The slide was small, no one was hurt, and the avalanche was reported (which we appreciate), with no further public involvement other than the trigger."

  • On a Jan. 16 tour into Beehive, we found the concerning layer of feathery surface hoar buried under 6" of snow. It is widespread from Big Sky through West Yellowstone and Cooke City. It has produced avalanches near Hebgen Lake, with more snow, it will likely produce avalanches in Beehive too. Photo: GNFAC

  • A photo of a skier-triggered avalanche above Hebgen Lake. Photo: S. Reinsel

  • Darren Johnson was a passionate skier, patroller, and wildland firefighter and this fund helps his memory live on. During the week of January 16, 2023, there are two events happening to help spread awareness about the DJ Fund and generate donations for the next recipients to attend National Avalanche School in October 2024. The first event is at the Independent Theatre on Tuesday, January 17. This charity event has a $10 entry fee which includes a raffle ticket to a silent auction. On Thursday, January 19, join us at Beehive Basin Brewery for a raffle and pint night in which $1 from every pint sold goes into the DJ Memorial Fund.

    To donate to the Darren Johnson Avalanche Education Memorial Fund visit djmemorialfund.org, or join us at these two exciting events hosted by Yellowstone Club Ski Patrol. Huge thanks to all who have sponsored and donated to these events.

  • We found a layer of preserved surface hoar that propagated failure in the Taylor Fork. This will be something to watch with incoming snow. Photo: GNFAC

  • Skier unintentionally triggered and was caught in wind slab avalanche on the Y couloir in Sheep Creek Drainage. Skier was carried 10m before self arresting. The slide ran ~250m down and broke across the entire width of the couloir. There were no injuries and skied away. 

  • From obs: "While riding a small NNE facing slope near the trail on Buck Ridge, a snowboarder triggered and followed a cornice slide that propagated approximately 75 feet and slid about 20' vertical. The one rider was caught and carried approx. 10' and ended up buried upright, waist deep with no injuries."

     

Videos- Southern Madison

WebCams


Raynolds Pass, Looking N

Snowpit Profiles- Southern Madison

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Forecast Southern Madison

Extended Forecast for

20 Miles S Big Sky MT

Winter Storm Warning March 24, 12:00pm until March 27, 12:00amClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Storm Warning
  • Overnight

    Overnight: A 40 percent chance of snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. South southwest wind around 13 mph.  Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow

    Low: 12 °F

  • Friday

    Friday: Snow, mainly before 3pm, then snow showers after 3pm. Some thunder is also possible.  High near 25. South southwest wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

    Snow

    High: 25 °F

  • Friday
    Night

    Friday Night: Snow showers before 9pm, then snow after 9pm. Some thunder is also possible.  Low around 11. Wind chill values as low as -10. Blustery, with a south southwest wind 14 to 24 mph becoming north northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

    Snow Showers
    and Blustery

    Low: 11 °F

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Snow.  High near 20. Wind chill values as low as -5. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 14 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    Snow and
    Blustery

    High: 20 °F

  • Saturday
    Night

    Saturday Night: Snow.  Low around 9. North northwest wind 8 to 15 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    Snow

    Low: 9 °F

  • Sunday

    Sunday: Snow.  High near 20. Southwest wind 8 to 10 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

    Snow

    High: 20 °F

  • Sunday
    Night

    Sunday Night: Snow, mainly before midnight.  Low around 6. North northwest wind 7 to 14 mph becoming south southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    Snow then
    Chance Snow

    Low: 6 °F

  • Monday

    Monday: A chance of snow, mainly after noon.  Partly sunny, with a high near 21. South southwest wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

    Chance Snow

    High: 21 °F

  • Monday
    Night

    Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 6.

    Mostly Cloudy

    Low: 6 °F

The Last Word

In the last 2 weeks, five people were killed in avalanches. A total of 19 have been killed in avalanches in the U.S. this season. More info on each event is available at Avalanche.org Accidents Page.

03 / 22 / 23  <<  
 
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