Trip Planning for Northern Gallatin

as of 5:00 am
Today0″ | 20-45 SW
Apr 7 0″ | 15-30 SW
Apr 6 0″ | 15-28 W
9982′     04/08 at 5:00
26.2℉
W - 13mph
Gusts 24 mph
8100′     04/08 at 04:00
33℉
73″ Depth
Primary Problem: Loose Wet
Bottom Line: This morning, avalanche conditions are generally safe and slides are unlikely. Warming during the day will unlock snow surfaces and make wet loose and wind slab avalanches possible. Move to lower-angle terrain or colder, drier slopes on northern aspects when the top few inches of snow become wet or roller balls signal deteriorating stability. The most likely location for instability related to wind-drifted snow is immediately below corniced ridgelines and in upper elevation gullies holding dry snow. Either avoid these specific locations or evaluate drifted slopes for instability.

Past 5 Days

Thu Apr 3

Low
Fri Apr 4

Moderate
Sat Apr 5

Moderate
Sun Apr 6

Moderate
Mon Apr 7

Moderate

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • 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

  • Understanding Avalanche Safety Preparedness – 5-Minute Survey for Motorized Users

    We need your input! 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—and why some riders aren’t.  The survey is confidential and anonymous.  

    Your feedback is invaluable in improving avalanche education and awareness. Please take a moment to share your experience and help us make a difference.

    https://eoustmhs.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3L8QKAuZzcxJBLo

    Thank you for your time and for being a part of this important effort!

  • This small wind slab avalanche failed on Mt Blackmore on Sunday. Photo: C Rendeiro

     

  • Debris pile from a small wind slab avalanche on Mt Blackmore. Photo: C Rendeiro
     

     

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • "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

  • Ridge line just west of divide peak in Hyalite canyon. Photo: O Silitch

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • This older wet slide is a good example of what to look out for especially at low elevations.

  • This older wet slide is a good example of what to look out for especially at low elevations.

  • 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.

     

     

  • Cornice triggered slab avalanche, maybe wind slab. Hard to say.

     

     

  • 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. 

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • SS-ASc-R1-D.5-I 

    310 Degrees  NW

    8129ft

     

    Photo: Tagg Cole

  • Storm slab avalanche between Blackmore and Elephant. Photo: Anonymous

  • 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

  • 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 

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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 

  • 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

     

  • 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

     

  • At the base of G2 I triggered a 3 inch x 100 foot soft slab. Photo: D Chabot

  • Most notable test result was ECTP16 down 35 cm on a layer of surface hoar. Photo: E Heiman

  • Most notable test result was ECTP16 down 35 cm on a layer of surface hoar. Photo: E Heiman

  • 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

  • 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

  • Elephant Mountain and the summer trail area were scoured down to the tundra. Photo: GNFAC

  • 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

  •  The cornices are growing rather large from the recent wind. Photo: Anonymous

Videos- Northern Gallatin

WebCams


Bozeman Pass, Looking SE

Snowpit Profiles- Northern Gallatin

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Forecast Northern Gallatin

Extended Forecast for

14 Miles SE Gallatin Gateway MT

  • Overnight

    Overnight: A 30 percent chance of snow showers.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.  Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Low: 30 °F

    Chance Snow
    Showers

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: Snow showers likely, mainly between 7am and 8am. Some thunder is also possible.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. West southwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

    High: 39 °F

    Snow Showers
    Likely

  • Tuesday Night

    Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow showers between 3am and 4am.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West southwest wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.

    Low: 26 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow Showers

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before noon.  Partly sunny, with a high near 39. West wind 11 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.  Little or no snow accumulation expected.

    High: 39 °F

    Chance Snow
    Showers

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. West northwest wind 13 to 18 mph becoming southwest 7 to 12 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph.

    Low: 27 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. South wind around 8 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

    High: 53 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Thursday Night

    Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. South wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

    Low: 37 °F

    Partly Cloudy

  • Friday

    Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57. South wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

    High: 57 °F

    Partly Sunny

  • Friday Night

    Friday Night: A slight chance of rain before midnight, then a chance of rain and snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.

    Low: 36 °F

    Slight Chance
    Rain then
    Chance
    Rain/Snow

The Last Word

Hyalite Road Closure 

The Hyalite Canyon Road is closed to ALL MOTORIZED VEHICLES until the morning of May 16. This is a regular annual road closure to reduce road damage during the spring thaw. Bicycle and foot traffic are allowed. Contact the Bozeman FS Ranger District for more info.

04 / 6 / 25  <<  
 
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