Trip Planning for Southern Madison

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."