The avalanche occurred on the northernmost ridgeline in the Mt. Blackmore system near the waypoint at the top of the image. GNFAC/ Gaia
Trip Planning for Northern Gallatin
Past 5 Days
Considerable
Moderate
Moderate
Considerable
Considerable
Relevant Avalanche Activity
SS-ASu-R3-D2-O
Elevation: 9,000
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 45.4444, -111.0040
Caught: 1 ; Buried: 0; Killed: 0
Two skiers were ascending a northeast-facing avalanche path on the northernmost ridgeline of Mount Blackmore around 1 PM when they triggered a large, dry slab avalanche that failed 3 feet deep, 150 feet wide, and ran 500 feet vertical. Debris piled up 4-8 feet deep. The avalanche failed on weak, faceted snow near the base of the snowpack.
As the group was about halfway up the avalanche path, they saw a small slide initiate to their right and then they heard a loud boom as the rest of the slope collapsed 250 feet above them. The skier lower on the path sprinted to the left into the trees to avoid getting caught. The second skier was 30 higher on the slope. He attempted to run off the slope but was unable to avoid getting captured. He was carried to the bottom of the avalanche path, got submerged in the snow, but thankfully came to rest on the surface. His partner initiated a beacon search and called his name, quickly finding him on top of the avalanche debris. The skier sustained significant injuries. They called 911 and Gallatin Country Sheriff Search and Rescue initiated a response with the Helicopter team. The two skiers worked to address injuries while awaiting rescue. GCSAR inserted a team with a helicopter that provided medical treatment and both the injured and uninjured skiers. The GNFAC was on scene to evaluate the scene for hazards to the rescue team.
More Avalanche Details
WL-AS-R1-D1
Elevation: 9,750
Aspect: SE
Coordinates: 45.4444, -111.0040
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
From IG:
Southeast aspect on Mt Blackmore. Unknown time and date. Elevation 9700 to 9800’
More Avalanche Details
NC-R3-D3.5-O
Elevation: 9,800
Aspect: N
Coordinates: 45.4444, -111.0040
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
Large avalanche North face Mt Blackmore. Appeared to be potentially triggered by cornice fall from above. Crown propagated across majority of the bowl and was quite large in places.
From Obs: "Cornice fall triggered a big one. Looks to be real fresh. last night or this morning Broke across the whole bowl and up to 8 feet deep maybe more right in the middle. Broken trees in the debris, And ran out of sight."
More Avalanche Details
Relevant Photos
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Two skiers were ascending a northeast-facing avalanche path on the northernmost ridgeline of Mount Blackmore around 1 PM when they triggered a large, dry slab avalanche that failed 3 feet deep, 150 feet wide, and ran 500 feet vertical. Debris piled up 4-8 feet deep and broke a number of mature trees. Photo: GNFAC
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Two skiers were ascending a northeast-facing avalanche path on the northernmost ridgeline of Mount Blackmore around 1 PM when they triggered a large, dry slab avalanche that failed 3 feet deep, 150 feet wide, and ran 500 feet vertical. Debris piled up 4-8 feet deep. This photo captures the first area to avalanche on the climber's right side of the path. Photo: GNFAC
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Two skiers were ascending a northeast-facing avalanche path on the northernmost ridgeline of Mount Blackmore around 1 PM when they triggered a large, dry slab avalanche that failed 3 feet deep, 150 feet wide, and ran 500 feet vertical. Debris piled up 4-8 feet deep. One skier was carried to the bottom left of the runout zone. Photo: GNFAC
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Two skiers were ascending a northeast-facing avalanche path on the northernmost ridgeline of Mount Blackmore around 1 PM when they triggered a large, dry slab avalanche that failed 3 feet deep, 150 feet wide, and ran 500 feet vertical. Debris piled up 4-8 feet deep. One skier was carried to the bottom left of the runout zone. Photo: GNFAC
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Two skiers were ascending a northeast-facing avalanche path on the northernmost ridgeline of Mount Blackmore around 1 PM when they triggered a large, dry slab avalanche that failed 3 feet deep, 150 feet wide, and ran 500 feet vertical. Debris piled up 4-8 feet deep. Photo: GNFAC
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My partner and I were approaching Responsible FamilyMan via Avalanche Gulch early yesterday morning (3/18), and once we broke through the trees into the runout zone, we stumbled across a pretty large wet avalanche debris field. The debris terminated within ~50 yards of the max runout zone. Photo: R. Parsons
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My partner and I were approaching Responsible Family Man via Avalanche Gulch early yesterday morning (3/18), and once we broke through the trees into the runout zone, we stumbled across a pretty large wet avalanche debris field. The debris terminated within ~50 yards of the max runout zone. Photo: R. Parsons
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A wet loose snow avalanche on the southeast aspect on Mt Blackmore at 9700 to 9800 feet elevation. Photo: C Daniels
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Skiers a few days ago saw several deep natural avalanches near the head of Swan Creek. These avalanches broke 2-5' deep, 2000' wide, and ran "full track". The exact date of when these avalanches happened is unknown but they likely happened over a week ago in the first few days of March. Photo: S. Reinsel
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Skiers a few days ago saw several deep natural avalanches near the head of Swan Creek. These avalanches broke 2-5' deep, 2000' wide, and ran "full track". The exact date of when these avalanches happened is unknown but they likely happened over a week ago in the first few days of March. Photo: S. Reinsel
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Skiers noted a large natural avalanche on the North face of Mt Blackmore that broke overnight. The crown was around 8 feet deep. Photo: E. Roman
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Skiers noted a large natural avalanche on the North face of Mt Blackmore that broke overnight. The crown was around 8 feet deep. Photo: E. Roman
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Skiers noted a large natural avalanche on the North face of Mt Blackmore that broke overnight. The crown was around 8 feet deep. Photo: E. Roman
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One of several natural avalanches in the upper South Cottonwood drainage that skiers saw while in Hyalite. Photo: L. Gabrielson
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One of several natural avalanches in the upper South Cottonwood drainage that skiers saw while in Hyalite. Photo: L. Gabrielson
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One of several natural avalanches in the upper South Cottonwood drainage that skiers saw while in Hyalite. Photo: L. Gabrielson
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This large avalanche was observed on Sunday, 03/03/2024 by riders in Portal Creek. Photo taken today, 03/07/2024. Photo: G. Edwards
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Skiers from History Rock saw a few recent natural avalanches on Mt. Blackmore that likely happened during or near the end of a storm on 03/02-03/03. Photo: E. Webb
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From obs: "Shot from the top of Flanders, ~1400 this afternoon, 3/3/2024. Big slide(s) on Arden and in Maid of the Mist. Looks like the skin track and ski track between the two slides got taken out. At first glance from across the way it looked like the skin track was crossing over the debris, but when zoomed in it looks like the debris overran the skin track and the ski track." Photo: M. Zia
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From obs: "Shot from the top of Flanders, ~1400 this afternoon, 3/3/2024. Big slide(s) on Arden and in Maid of the Mist. Looks like the skin track and ski track between the two slides got taken out. At first glance from across the way it looked like the skin track was crossing over the debris, but when zoomed in it looks like the debris overran the skin track and the ski track." Photo: M. Zia
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Skiers experienced widespread cracking and collapsing while touring in Hyalite. The largest of which shot 100' out in front of them. Photo: S. Lowe
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Skiers on 03/02/2024 observed several natural avalanches that likely happened in the last 24 hours. Photo: Anonymous
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Skies on 03/02/2024 observed several natural avalanches that likely happened in the last 24 hours. Photo: Anonymous
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Photo from IG, slide occurred night of 3/1.
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Observed on 03/01: Riders in Hyalite saw an avalanche on an east-facing slope near Maid of the Mist. This likely happened between 02/29/2024- 03/01/2024. Photo: Anonymous
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Skiing some dog pow across Hyalite reservoir between 7200-7800’ on a NE pitch I got lots of whumphs and shooting cracks while braking trail. This was a shallower snowpack than most other areas, it was still easy to break into basil facets with skis on.
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Skiing some dog pow across Hyalite reservoir between 7200-7800’ on a NE pitch I got lots of whumphs and shooting cracks while braking trail. This was a shallower snowpack than most other areas, it was still easy to break into basil facets with skis on.
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From IG: This avalanche was from this morning (02/28). It was windy and the gully was likely wind-loaded. One video shows the debris and crown. The pin on the map (below) shows the location of the debris.
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From obs: "Several small slabs pulled out above The Shimmy, left of Cleo's. Observed from across the valley while climbing the Dribbles. Did not observe them run, only saw the crowns. Unknown date of avalanches, but crowns were quite distinct from across the way." Photo: M. Zia
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On 02/22/2024 we saw a natural avalanche in the Divide Cirque that probably happened late last week near 02/17/2024. Photo: GNFAC
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On 02/22/2024 from the Divide Cirque we saw a natural avalanche near Overlook Mountain that probably happened late last week near 02/17/2024. Photo: GNFAC
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Observed on 02/19/2024: From obs: "From the approach trail to Mummy II we saw two large crowns on the ridge associated with Mt. Bole. Not sure when they happened, but they looked pretty big!" Photo: M. Bjornsson
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Observed on 02/19/2024: From obs: "From the approach trail to Mummy II we saw two large crowns on the ridge associated with Mt. Bole. Not sure when they happened, but they looked pretty big!" Photo: M. Bjornsson
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Observed on 02/19/2024: From obs: "From the approach trail to Mummy II we saw two large crowns on the ridge associated with Mt. Bole. Not sure when they happened, but they looked pretty big!" Photo: M. Bjornsson
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Climbers in Hyalite saw an avalanche that likely happened in the last 48 hours above Twin Falls on 02/19/2024. The trigger is unknown, 3' at the deepest point, and broke 100' wide. Photo: R. Parsons
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Climbers in Hyalite saw an avalanche that likely happened in the last 48 hours above Twin Falls on 02/19/2024. The trigger is unknown, 3' at the deepest point, and broke 100' wide. Photo: R. Parsons
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Climbers in Hyalite saw an avalanche that likely happened in the last 48 hours above Twin Falls on 02/19/2024. The trigger is unknown, 3' at the deepest point, and broke 100' wide. Photo: R. Parsons
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A skier on 02/18/2024 saw a large natural avalanche on the NE face south of Flanders that likely happened on 02/15/2024. Photo: Anonymous
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From obs 2/17/24: "Lots of natural activity up buck ridge. The one photoed looked like it popped off this morning. Most activity we saw seemed to be on northern facing aspects" Photo: M. Forbes
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Extended Forecast for14 Miles SE Gallatin Gateway MT
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Today
Heavy Snow
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Blowing SnowHigh: 34 °F
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