Good morning. This is Mark Staples with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Advisory issued on Thursday, March 14 at 7:30 a.m. The Cliff Gullett Memorial Fund and the Moonlight Basin Ski Patrol sponsor today’s advisory. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas.
Warm weather is the story today. Temperatures this morning were a few degrees either side of freezing and winds were blowing 10-20 mph from the W and SW. Skies today will have some clouds which hopefully will keep the sun at bay. Mountain temperatures will be in the 40s F with winds continuing at 10-20 mph. Tomorrow a small disturbance and slightly colder temperatures may produce a few snowflakes. A better chance for colder temperatures and snowfall will arrive on Sunday.
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
A combination of warm temperatures and a lack of loading has created generally safe avalanche conditions. We have found many stable slopes recently in Beehive and Bear Basins, Hyalite Canyon, and Lionhead near West Yellowstone. Even wind slabs seem to be well bonded.
How to travel today? Approach every slope as though it has its own unique avalanche problem. On south facing slopes, watch out for point releases of wet snow today since overnight temperatures barely got below freezing. On north facing slopes where the snow remains dry, there are some faceted layers lurking. If riding in committing terrain where the consequences of an avalanche would be severe, dig at least one snowpit and conduct stability tests. On all slopes, watch for big cornices which may break as temperatures warm and snow begins creeping downhill.
Today the dry snow avalanche danger is LOW. The wet snow avalanche danger is MODERATE.
Outside the advisory area: We have no data from nearby places like the Crazy and Centennial Ranges, but we’ve received reports of human triggered avalanches in these areas last weekend (photo1, photo2, photo3). While the snowpack may be mostly stable in the advisory area, it can be drastically different in nearby mountain ranges.
I will issue the next advisory tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. If you have any snowpack or avalanche observations drop us a line at mtavalanche@gmail.com or call us at 587-6984.