Good Morning. This is Eric Knoff with early season avalanche and weather information for the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center on Wednesday, November 14th. This bulletin is sponsored by The Friends of the Avalanche Center and Mystery Ranch and will be updated Saturday morning.
This morning temps range from the low 20s to low 30s F under mostly clear skies and winds are blowing 15-25 mph out of the W-SW. Nice weather continues today with plenty of sunshine and highs climbing into the 30s to low 40s F. Winds will increase this afternoon gusting upwards of 30 mph from the W-SW. Dry and breezy conditions continue through tomorrow, but a good storm is forecasted to deliver heavy snow on Friday.
Wind slabs are the primary avalanche concern across the advisory area. Avalanche activity earlier in the week and last weekend is bull’s eye information fresh winds slabs are easy to trigger (photo, photo photo, photo).
Yesterday, calm winds and warmer temperatures gave recent instabilities a chance to stabilize. However, winds are forecasted to increase today which will form a fresh batch of wind slabs in upper elevation terrain. Watch for this problem around rideglines, gullies and cliff bands. Avoiding wind loaded slopes, primarily in steep-high consequence terrain will be the best way to avoid an avalanche incident. It’s important to remember that avalanches can be triggered while hiking up hill. Read a recent article by the Utah Avalanche Center highlighting this problem.
An additional problem will be wet loose avalanches. This problem will stay confined to steep slopes facing the south half of the compass. Signs of instability such as roller balls and small point releases are obvious clues instability is on the rise. Move to colder/shadier aspects if these signs are present.
New this season, we added hyperlinks to the Weather and Avalanche Log and a new Menu item <Avalanches and SnowPits> with information on avalanche activity and incidents.
It is early season and we are still formulating an overall picture of the snowpack. Our photos page and snowpit profiles detail our field days and are worth a look. If you get outside send us an observation 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.
Tonight, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 6-7pm at Spire Climbing Center
Tonight, 1-hr Avalanche Awareness, 6-7pm at Round House Sports
November 26, MSU Snow and Avalanche Workshop, 5-9pm at MSU SUB Ballroom A
November 29, 30 and Dec 1, 2or 8, Intro to Avalanche w/ Field Day, more info here
Every Friday and Saturday in Cooke City starting November 23 and 24, Free Rescue training and Snowpack update, exact locations TBD
Practice with your rescue gear, and test your partner’s skills. Put fresh batteries in your beacon and check your shovel and probe for any damage, and replace them if needed.