24-25

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. 

 There was a thin melt/freeze crust formed on solar aspects lower down (up to ~500 feet above the parking). Photo: BP

Skied the Bacon Rind Skillet on 2/21 based on the GNFAC's good report from their snow pit on 2/19 and had no signs of instability. Wind on 2/21 was from the SE and was moving some snow around down low (filled in the old skin track) but things were sheltered in the trees. Not much drifting in the meadows towards the top either. There was a thin melt/freeze crust formed on solar aspects lower down (up to ~500 feet above the parking). We were there from about 10:00 - 14:00 and it was cloudy all day, the snow never got very wet or heavy.

We skied in Maid of the Mist basin today. Solars had a sun crust preventing much snow from drifting, although the constant moderate winds out of the west were trying their best. We found multiple windslab pockets in the Fat and Skinny Maid, though these seemed fairly stubborn and were not propagating. Found some well developed (4-5 mm) basal facets in the talus of the Skinny Maid as well, and although we saw no signs of instability on this layer they are something to watch out for in steep thin terrain.

No recent avalanche activity visible except some loose wets and small cornice fall from the prior warm sunny days.

Can confirm, it was blowing in the Bridgers.  Up high it was still cool enough that a fair amount of snow was moving around, especially further north.  Clouds of snow were coming off of the ridges and moving through the bowls near Fairy Lake and Fraiser divide.  Around the of the Throne and in the mid elevations we found better, more sheltered snow conditions.  The area around Ross Peak was very scoured.  We saw a handful of small point releases on steep south slopes, likely from Friday, but no other recent avalanche activity.  By mid-day/early afternoon, the snow lower down in the woods was getting pretty heavy and wet and anywhere with the slightest bit of sun exposure was developing a crust.  Talked to a few skiers who toured in the Naya Nuki area, and they described variable snow and very windy conditions.  

Sooooo many pin wheels coming down in the Gallatin canyon today on my way home from work. I was driving and couldn't get a full look, but half way through the canyon, it looked like a whole, relatively small, slope slid, maybe propagated 50-75ft on the west facing side of the road.

From email: "One of my crew was partially buried in an avalanche today(head about 1’ down, leg and arm still above snow) at approximately 13:10 hrs.  Slope was greater than 35 degrees, crown approximately 85 yards wide, over 3’ at its thickest point.  I believe it was a NE exposure with wind loading at the top.  I had a bad feeling about this slope and mentioned it to my crew and avoided riding on it until one rider ran out of gas and I had to help him.  Upon completion of task, I rode back to a spot that wasn’t as safe a vantage point as what I had previously stayed at, but the intention w

From email: "One of my crew was partially buried in an avalanche today(head about 1’ down, leg and arm still above snow) at approximately 13:10 hrs.  Slope was greater than 35 degrees, crown approximately 85 yards wide, over 3’ at its thickest point.  I believe it was a NE exposure with wind loading at the top.  I had a bad feeling about this slope and mentioned it to my crew and avoided riding on it until one rider ran out of gas and I had to help him.  Upon completion of task, I rode back to a spot that wasn’t as safe a vantage point as what I had previously stayed at, but the intention w