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
Trip Planning for Northern Gallatin
Past 5 Days

Considerable

Moderate

Moderate

Low

Moderate
Relevant Avalanche Activity

SS-R1-D1-I
Elevation: 8,800
Aspect: N
Coordinates: 45.4444, -111.0040
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
On Sunday, skiers passed a small natural wind slab avalanche on the way down Blackmore that they didn’t see on the way up.
More Avalanche Details
Relevant Photos
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This small wind slab avalanche failed on Mt Blackmore on Sunday. Photo: C Rendeiro
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Debris pile from a small wind slab avalanche on Mt Blackmore. Photo: C Rendeiro
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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
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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
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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
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"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
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Ridge line just west of divide peak in Hyalite canyon. Photo: O Silitch
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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
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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
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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
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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
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This older wet slide is a good example of what to look out for especially at low elevations.
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This older wet slide is a good example of what to look out for especially at low elevations.
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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.
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Cornice triggered slab avalanche, maybe wind slab. Hard to say.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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SS-ASc-R1-D.5-I
310 Degrees NW
8129ft
Photo: Tagg Cole
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Storm slab avalanche between Blackmore and Elephant. Photo: Anonymous
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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At the base of G2 I triggered a 3 inch x 100 foot soft slab. Photo: D Chabot
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Most notable test result was ECTP16 down 35 cm on a layer of surface hoar. Photo: E Heiman
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Most notable test result was ECTP16 down 35 cm on a layer of surface hoar. Photo: E Heiman
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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
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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
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Elephant Mountain and the summer trail area were scoured down to the tundra. Photo: GNFAC
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I went for a walk up the main fork of hyalite today and observed a very dirty snow surface from the strong SW winds. Photo: Anonymous
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The cornices are growing rather large from the recent wind. Photo: Anonymous
Videos- Northern Gallatin
WebCams
Bozeman Pass, Looking SE
Weather Stations- Northern Gallatin
Weather Forecast Northern Gallatin
Extended Forecast for14 Miles SE Gallatin Gateway MT
Winter Storm Watch March 31, 06:00pm until April 2, 12:00amClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Storm WatchTonight
Low: 22 °F
Slight Chance
SnowMonday
High: 35 °F
Snow Likely
Monday Night
Low: 20 °F
Snow Likely
Tuesday
High: 26 °F
Heavy Snow
Tuesday Night
Low: 21 °F
Chance Snow
Wednesday
High: 29 °F
Snow Likely
Wednesday Night
Low: 18 °F
Chance Snow
Thursday
High: 30 °F
Snow Likely
Thursday Night
Low: 19 °F
Chance Snow
The Last Word

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. The survey is confidential and anonymous.
Your feedback is invaluable; please take a moment to share your experience and help us make a difference.