This is pre-season information from the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center on Wednesday, October 16. This information is sponsored by The Friends of the Avalanche Center.
POWDER BLAST FUNDRAISER, FRIDAY OCTOBER 25
The Powder Blast is the Friends of the Avalanche Center's biggest fundraiser of the year. Friday, October 25 at 6:00 p.m. @ Emerson Cultural Center
Your $50 ticket gets you an unforgettable evening with:
Live music by The Dirt Farmers,
Dinner by The Bountiful Table,
The best silent auction of outdoor gear & experiences in the valley,
and your first drink free!
Get your tickets, donate, and start bidding for items in the silent auction.
Can’t attend the event? You can still donate online or bid on auction items to support The Friends of GNFAC.
Thank you to all the generous sponsors of the 2024 Powder Blast!
Highline Partners is title sponsor of this year's 26th Annual Powder Blast.
Major sponsors are:
Spark R&D, World Boards & Stronghold Fabrication
Supporting sponsors include:
Uphill Pursuits, Alpine Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Knoff Group Real Estate
Additional support from:
Massive.net, The Bountiful Table, Titan Straps, Jack and Pat Tackle
For current weather data check our weather stations in Cooke City, Hyalite, Lionhead, as well as Bridger Bowl’s weather stations, and SNOTEL sites throughout our advisory area. We will update the Weather and Avalanche Log and issue pre-season bulletins as needed.
All Regions
Winter has been on hold, but snow is in the forecast and we will be skiing and riding before we know it. Before your first day on the snow, take time to ensure your avalanche rescue gear is working properly and consider refreshing your avalanche skills with a class or two this season. See our education calendar for a list of all local classes.
Avalanches are not uncommon with the season’s first snowstorms, and have injured and killed people in past early seasons (accident reports). If you travel in the backcountry when there is snow on the ground, whether skiing, climbing or hunting, prepare for avalanches like you would mid-winter.
- Carry a beacon, shovel and probe at a minimum. Helmets are a necessity as well.
- Travel one at a time in avalanche terrain (all snow covered slopes steeper than 30 degrees).
- Avoid steep slopes with fresh drifts of snow, especially where a slide could push you into rocks, trees or pile up deep in a confined gully.
- Cracking and collapsing of the snow are bulls-eye information that the snow is unstable, and clear signs to avoid steep slopes.
- As the snow piles up it is a good idea to dig to see the layers below the recent snow. Avoid steep slopes if you find weak, sugary snow underneath new snow or drifted snow.
We are preparing for winter and will begin to collect snowpack information as the first storms pile up. If you have an avalanche, snowpack or weather observation 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: Events and Education Calendar.
Get your Powder Blast tickets! Can’t attend the event? You can still donate online or bid on auction items to support The Friends of GNFAC.