Avalanche that is likely 5-7 days old in Sunlight Basin, southern Madison Range. Photo taken 1/14/22 by GNFAC
Avalanche that is likely 5-7 days old in Taylor Fork, southern Madison Range. Photo taken 1/14/22 by GNFAC
<p>It remains possible to trigger an avalanche in the mountains around West Yellowstone and Cooke City. It’s been 6 days since the end of the last storm and while each day without snowfall does help the snowpack settle and stabilize, we still don’t completely trust the snowpack (<a href="https://youtu.be/1z0BBwxFFQE"><strong><u>Lionhead video</u></strong></a>). Skiers in the southern Madison Range yesterday saw several natural avalanches on Red Mountain (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/avalanches-red-mountain"><strong>…;). These slides (along with a large slide on Sage Peak - <a href="https://mtavalanche.com/node/25494"><strong><u>photo</u></strong></a>) likely broke last weekend, but provide examples of the sort of large avalanches that could still be triggered today. Digging to test the snowpack is your best bet to identify slopes where the weak layers at the ground remain unstable. The avalanche danger is MODERATE.</p>
<p>Avalanches are unlikely in the mountains around Big Sky and Bozeman. On Buck Ridge yesterday, I found the lower snowpack has been gaining strength and stabilizing (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOQF5jw9ojY"><strong><u>video</u></stro…;). In general, the snowpack is now mostly stable. This does not mean it is impossible to trigger a slide. Yesterday, skiers in the northern Bridger Range saw a natural avalanche that likely failed several days ago (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/natural-avalanche-near-fairy-lake…;) and got propagation under a wind slab in their Extended Column Tests. These signs of instability led them to choose to ski a mellower line than they had initially intended. This is the right mindset for today - be on the hunt for areas of isolated instability and look for reasons to back off your objectives. The avalanche danger is LOW near Big Sky and Bozeman.</p>
<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>websi…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong><u>mtavalanche@gmail.com</u></str…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>
The West Yellowstone Beacon Park is up and running! Stop by to check it out and practice with your rescue gear.
See our education calendar for an up-to-date list of all local classes. Here are a few select upcoming events and opportunities to check out:
Natural avalanche near Fairy Lake. Observed 1/13/22, likely broke several days prior. Photo: N. Crews
Several natural avalanches were observed on Red Mountain. These avalanches were seen on 1/13/22, but likely occurred around 1/8/22.
Avalanches on Red Mountain. Photo taken 1/13/22. Likely broke around 1/8/22. Photo: M. Standal
A cornice collapse likely triggered this large natural avalanche on 27 Dec 2021. The crown was 4-6' deep. Photo: S. Culotta
