From an email: "This is a southwest facing slope on lionshead, it was the last of about 20 runs up the hill yesterday. No one was caught in it." The snowpack here is very similar to what Eric found in Hedben Lake area just a few miles to the north; a weak layer under the new snow.. Photo: J. Schneider
The Bridger Range
A layer of near surface facets was recently buried in the southern mountains. This layer produced unstable results during stability tests and will likely be a concern for weeks to come.
Photo GNFAC
The horizontal stripe under the shovel handle is a layer of surface hoar buried under 6 inches of snow. As it gets buried further the chances of triggerring an avalanche on it will rise accordingly. It's very easy to find this layer in the southern Gallatin, southern Madison Ranges and Lionhead area since it is shallowly buried. Photo: GNFAC
Cooke City Southern Madison Range Southern Gallatin Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone
How much did it snow, where have the winds been blowing and what kind of surfaces did the new snow fall onto? These are the main questions we need to ask.
Cooke City
The primary avalanche concern for the mountains around Cooke City will be wind loaded slopes. Yesterday, gusts up to 40 mph out of the WSW were recorded near Lulu Pass. Although winds have subsided this morning, yesterday’s windy conditions transported snow onto leeward slopes, forming fresh wind slabs. Upper elevation terrain leeward to the predominant WSW winds will be the most likely to hold wind deposited snow.
Cooke City
Cooke City
