Trip Planning for Northern Gallatin

as of 5:00 am
Dec 70″ | 25-55 SW
Dec 6 0″ | 25-45 SW
Dec 5 2″ | 15-42 W
9980′     12/08 at 02:00
11.7℉
W - 13mph
Gusts 21mph
8100′     12/08 at 02:00
17℉
Depth
Bottom Line: Human-triggered avalanches large enough to bury or injure climbers, skiers or riders are possible. Today, new and wind-drifted snow will further prime slopes with a weak foundation for avalanches. Before considering steeper terrain, assess the snowpack for instability. Watch for signs of recent avalanches, shooting cracks or collapsing, and dig a snowpit to test for less obvious instability.
Primary Problem: Wind-Drifted Snow

Past 5 Days

Fri Nov 24

None
Fri Dec 1

None
Sun Dec 3

None
Mon Dec 4

None
Thu Dec 7

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Northern Gallatin
Flanders Creek
Two Natural Avalanches in Flanders
Flanders Creek
N
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.4402, -110.9310
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From FB message: "Hi! I’d like to report 2 natural slides that were witnessed in the Flanders fork of Hyalite on Friday 11/24 on the east facing aspect of the canyon. Both avalanches came from a single snow field above “Bobo Like” ice climb. These slides happened at approximately 7:45am and 8:15am"


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 12
  • Climbers in the Dribbles area of Hyalite Canyon collapsed a slab of wind-drifted snow resulting in a spider web of shooting cracks. Photo: Sam

     

  • Climbers in the Dribbles area of Hyalite Canyon collapsed a slab of wind-drifted snow resulting in a spider web of shooting cracks. Photo: Sam

     

  • At 9,000 feet there was about an inch of new snow. It was calm at first light, but by mid morning winds were gusty and blowing straight down the gullies. It stripped what little snow there was and did not create an avalanche hazard. However, the 6+" in the gullies are all faceted, and with even a thin wind-load it was easy to get cracking. With snowfall predicted for the next 48 hours and again later this week, we'll need to be on the lookout for pockets or gullies of wind blown snow.

  • We climbed to the Upper Mummy's (west facing) and found relatively little snow at 9,000'. Gullies that usually fill in from wind-loading were not showing much depth. HS was less than 6 inches on the hike up (see pic). Across the valley looking at Elephant and Palace Butte, the bowls were snow covered, but barely (pic). Lower elevation, east facing slopes were mostly mostly dirt.

    The avalanche danger is non-existent on most slopes. The exception would be high elevation gullies that happened to get wind drifts, but these are not widespread.

    Wind was calm and skies were sunny, with an air temp in the teens F.

     

  • We climbed to the Upper Mummy's (west facing) and found relatively little snow at 9,000'. Gullies that usually fill in from wind-loading were not showing much depth. HS was less than 6 inches on the hike up (see pic). Across the valley looking at Elephant and Palace Butte, the bowls were snow covered, but barely (pic). Lower elevation, east facing slopes were mostly mostly dirt.

    The avalanche danger is non-existent on most slopes. The exception would be high elevation gullies that happened to get wind drifts, but these are not widespread.

    Wind was calm and skies were sunny, with an air temp in the teens F.

     

  • Skiers reported triggering an avalanche on the east face of Mt. Blackmore on Sunday. Photo: Anonymous

  • Skiers reported triggering an avalanche on the east face of Mt. Blackmore on Sunday. Photo: Anonymous

  • From obs (10/29): "Went for a skin up to Hyalite Peak yesterday to check out snow conditions. We found about 8-12 inches of new snow sitting on a base at Hyalite Lake. We saw no signs of instability in the area. Small cornices were observed on the Hyalite saddle, and a hit or miss 1 inch wind slab directly below the ridge." Photo: T. Saulnier

  • From IG: “Pine creek today, some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”

  • From IG: “Pine creek today (10/21), some small wind slabs and a full depth wet slide off black mountain”

  • From obs. "Was out alpine climbing today and observed the north face of Blackmore had slid already."

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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

Winter Weather Advisory until December 8, 03:00pmClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Weather Advisory
  •  Winter Weather Advisory until December 8, 03:00pm

    NOW until
    3:00pm Fri

    Winter Weather Advisory

  • Overnight

    Overnight: A 40 percent chance of snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. West wind around 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.  Total nighttime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

    Chance Snow

    Low: 16 °F

  • Friday

    Friday: Snow, mainly before 2pm. The snow could be heavy at times.  Patchy blowing snow between 9am and 2pm. High near 19. Wind chill values as low as zero. Northwest wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

    Heavy Snow
    and Patchy
    Blowing Snow

    High: 19 °F

  • Friday
    Night

    Friday Night: Snow likely, mainly before 1am.  Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 7. Wind chill values as low as -5. West northwest wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

    Snow Likely

    Low: 7 °F

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 19. Wind chill values as low as -5. Southwest wind 8 to 13 mph.

    Increasing
    Clouds

    High: 19 °F

  • Saturday
    Night

    Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow after 11pm.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow
    and Breezy

    Low: 13 °F

  • Sunday

    Sunday: A 40 percent chance of snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow
    and Breezy

    High: 26 °F

  • Sunday
    Night

    Sunday Night: Snow likely.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. South wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Snow Likely

    Low: 20 °F

  • Monday

    Monday: A chance of snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. South southwest wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

    Chance Snow

    High: 26 °F

The Last Word

Listen to GNFAC Forecaster Dave Zinn on the Hoary Marmot Podcast for some extracurricular avalanche talk (link to episode).

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