24-25

Big inversion/ Very wet heavy snow

Date
Activity
Skiing

We toured up Lick Creek today. The temp in the parking lot was 17*F, temps warmed as we climbed up out of the valley. At the top of the ridge at roughly 8450’ the temp was 45*F in the shade according to my zip o gauge thermometer on my back pack +/-. The snow was wet and heavy, ski quality was mediocre to poor. The conditions were stable with nothing moving and lots and lots of buried tracks. There was lots of glopping on the skins! It was quite a problem. The ski out was ok in the track but sticky elsewhere making making things somewhat challenging. Back at the parking lot at 3pm it was 15*F. The last 100’ to the car was cold powder.

I have never seen an inversion quite like that!

sorry no pics or video.

Thank you for the work you do!

I hope this is useful and not redundant.

Jon Goodman

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Lick Creek
Observer Name
Jon Goodman

Recent Wind Slab Avalanches in 2nd YellowMule

Buck Ridge
Northern Madison
Code
SS-N-R1-D1
Latitude
45.17190
Longitude
-111.38000
Notes

On the headwall of the Second Yellow Mule, we saw two recent wind slab avalanches. These were small (R1 D1), immediately below the ridge, and likely broke late last night or this morning. 

 

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Natural and Snowmobile Triggered Avalanches at Lionhead

Lionhead Ridge
Lionhead Range
Code
SS
Latitude
44.71450
Longitude
-111.31800
Notes

Plenty of wind slabs ranging in size on Lionhead ridge and on surrounding slopes. Noticed a few natural slides on the way in, a few more on the way out that were rider triggered. Snow was quite wet by this afternoon @8500’. 

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Recent Avalanches near Cooke City

Henderson Mountain
Cooke City
Code
SS-N
Latitude
45.05240
Longitude
-109.94500
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year

Lick Creek Obs

Date

We toured up Lick Creek today. The temp in the parking lot was 17*f  temperatures warmed as we climbed out of the valley. At the top of the ridge at 8450’ it was 45* +/- a little on the little thermometer on my pack. The snow was wet and heavy, ski quality was mediocre to poor. Things were stable with nothing moving. Lots of glopping on the skins! The ski out was ok in the track but sticky elsewhere making things somewhat challenging. Back at the parking lot at 3 pm it was 15*f. The last 100’ to the road was cold powder.
I have never seen an inversion quite like that!

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Lick Creek
Observer Name
Jon Goodman