This is Dave Zinn with pre-season avalanche, weather and event information for the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center on Monday, October 28th. Thank you to everyone who attended Friday’s Powder Blast Fundraiser. Your support makes our organization better!
Since Friday evening 5-8” of new snow accumulated near Bozeman and Cooke City with 3” near Big Sky and West Yellowstone. This morning, mountain temperatures are 0-10 F and winds are 10-20 mph out of the west to northwest. Temperatures will peak in the single digits this morning before falling to -10 F tomorrow. Winds will increase to 15-25 mph from the north and northeast this afternoon. Snow will favor the Bridger and Gallatin Ranges with 6-8” by morning. The rest of our area will receive 4-6.” The remainder of the week will be dry with below-average temperatures.
We will update our Weather Log and Regional Conditions every morning with snowfall totals, and our Avalanche Activity list if we get a report.
All Regions
Winter enthusiasts took full advantage of the snow this weekend while hunters tried to stay warm and dry. Alex and I joined a good portion of Bozeman’s ski community in the Bridger Range to gather preliminary snowpack information. We found generally stable conditions and a layered snowpack that is getting deeper by the day (video). Skiers in Middle Basin near Big Sky found similar results in their stability tests (video). Last week we received reports of avalanches that occurred with the storms (Taylor Fork, Bridger Range, Hyalite Canyon). Added caution is warranted given our layered snowpack, limited field data, and levels of early-season uncertainty. More snow and wind are coming today. Stay off wind loaded slopes and dig a snowpit before committing to avalanche terrain.
There is up to three feet of snow on the ground and the consequences of early-season avalanches can be dire. Rocks and stumps are near the surface and even a small avalanche can bury us in terrain features like gullies. This can have tragic consequences (accident report). If you are getting out into the backcountry to hunt, climb, or ride drop us a line when you get home so we can share what you’ve found with the rest of the community.
We are preparing for winter, setting up weather stations and collecting snowpack information. If you have avalanche, snowpack or weather observations to share, please submit them via our website, email (mtavalanche@gmail.com), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).
Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events
Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out and plan to attend one or two: Events and Education Calendar.
BOZEMAN
6 November, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 6-7pm @ REI Bozeman.
7 November, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 6-7pm @ Langford Hall, MSU.
12 November, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 6-7pm @ Montana Ski Tuning and Boot Fitters.
14 November, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 6-7pm @ South Hedges Hall, MSU.
14 November, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 6-7pm @ Uphill Pursuits.
20 November, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 6-7pm @ The Mountain Project.
4 & 5 December, Introduction to Avalanche w/ Field Course, Evenings of December 4 & 5 plus one field day either December 7, 8 or 14. Snowmobile specific field day offered December 14. More info and Register Here.
HELENA
6 November, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 6-7pm @ The Base Camp in Helena.
23 November, Helena Snowdrifters, Avalanche Awareness and Partner Rescue Training, 9am-3pm at the Mako Building in Helena.
BILLINGS
19 November, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 6-7pm @ The Base Camp in Billings.
Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out and plan to attend one or two: Events and Education Calendar.