Trip Planning for Northern Gallatin

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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