Trip Planning for Southern Madison

as of 5:00 am

Today	0″ \| 10-30 NW
Dec 9	0″ \| 15-45 NW
Dec 8	2″ \| 15-42 SW

Taylor Fork Weather

9460′ 12/10 at 10:00

7.7℉
SW - 7mph
Gusts 15 mph

Carrot Basin SNOTEL

9000′ 12/10 at 09:00

6℉
29″ Depth

Full Forecast

Primary Problem: Wind Slab

Bottom Line: The southern portions of the advisory area received 2-4” of snow over the past three days. With less wind and less snow, human-triggered avalanches are unlikely. Today's primary concern is thin wind slab avalanches breaking up to 6” deep. These are limited to terrain subject to more wind, generally upper elevations. Recognize the consequences of a small avalanche in the presence of terrain traps and adjust your route if you notice shooting cracks or signs of instability.

Past 5 Days

Fri Dec 6

Low

Sat Dec 7

Low

Sun Dec 8

Moderate

Mon Dec 9

Moderate

Today

Low

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 18

Surface hoar

Surface hoar in Taylor Fork
Ian Assesses the Snowpack at Sunlight Basin

We got propagating test score in a 60 cm deep snowpit at the edge of Sunlight Basin (ECTP18 @ 22 cm) and at the Wilderness Boundary in a 49 cm deep pit (ECTP14 @14 cm). Photo: GNFAC
E facing snow at 8100 ft Cabin Ck

WE facing snow at 8100 ft Cabin Ck
Radiation Recrystallization happening

Radiation Recrystallization happening
Cabin Creek snow cover

Cabin Creek snow cover
SE facing snow Cabin Creek

SE facing snow Cabin Creek
N facing snow Cabin Creek

N facing snow Cabin Creek, 9000 ft
Large Avalanche on facets triggered by Big Sky patrol

Big Sky Ski Patrol triggered this avalanche during mitigation work in The Wave on 11/26/24... "2-3' deep on an ice crust just above the ground with a 2# shot in the Upper rodeo. Volume was limited as most of the snow was loaded just underneath the cornice, but still produced a sizeable size 2... Other paths in the Lenin region ran meaty wind slabs, full track with no significant step downs." Photo: BSSP
Big Sky cracking of snowpack

Cracking on old, faceted, October snow hundreds of feet long. North facing near treeline. Photo: BSSP
Big Sky triggered avalanche

Intentional, human-triggered avalanche by a ski patrol breaking at the ground on a north facing slope near treeline. Photo: BSSP
Snowpit at Bridger

Snowpit at Bridger Bowl on 11/5. Photo: B. VandenBos
North face of the Sphinx, Nov 2

Photo: S. Bonucci
Wind Slabs at the Sphinx

From obs.: "Triggered a small wind slab: -9600' -N aspect on the NW ridge of Sphinx Mountain -Strong SW wind

-Noticed oth er small crowns, likely triggered from another party traversing the north-facing bowl at similar elevations" Photo: S. Bonucci
Cracking in recent hard wind slab

From e-mail: "Photo attached from near top of hyalite peak, 11/2. Cracking in recent hard wind slab, I had to really jump hard to make this. Walked on many other hard slabs that were well bonded. Highly variable snowpack. I think you'd be most likely to get into trouble by popping out a small hard slab pocket like this and getting magic carpeted into some thinly covered terrain." Photo: B. VandenBos
Minor Faceting in At Spanish Peaks Resort

From obs: "1-3 mm faceting in front of the Montage. Clear skys and mid 20 temps"
Fresh Snow in Big Sky

On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Yellowstone Club Webcam
Bridger Bowl Ridge Webcam

On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Bridger Bowl Webcams
Powder Blast 2024 - October 25

The 26th annual fundraiser for the Friends of the GNFAC is October 25 at the Emerson Cultural Center. More info and tickets at: https://events.eventgroove.com/event/Powder-Blast-2024-101627