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Bridger Range   Gallatin Range   Madison Range   Lionhead area near West Yellowstone   Cooke City

There was 3 feet of snow on this NE facing slope at 9,700'. Unfotunately, it was all faceted. This weak structure will be a problem when the snows arrive, but today it was not. The snowpack does not have much stength: we sank to our crotch when we stepped out of our skis. Photo: GNFAC

Snow totals from Friday night’s storm weren’t quite enough to tip the scales and produce widespread instability. However, the 3-6 inches that fell was enough to put the snowpack on edge. The new snow also provided plenty of fresh ammunition for wind slab development. Today, wind loaded slopes will be the primary avalanche concern. Due to the generally weak structure of the snowpack, wind slabs will likely be sitting on weak, faceted snow (video). This will make them especially sensitive to human triggers.

Skiers near Hyalite Peak triggered this small wind slab. Although small in size, this type of slide could be dangerous if triggered in steep, high consequence terrain. Photo: A. Lussier 

Bridger Range   Gallatin Range   Madison Range  

Lionhead area near West Yellowstone   Cooke City

This avalanche occured on Sepulcher Mountain in YNP in the southern Gallatin Range. The snowpack was wind slab over facets and skiers triggered this pocket at 8981' on a ESE facing low angled slope. Photo: B. De Young