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Skiers near Hebgen Lake experienced large collapses resulting in obvious cracks in the snowpack. This large crack fromed when a cornice was dropped on the slope. Collapsing and cracking are obvious signs the snowpack is unstable. Photo E. Wolf 

The Big Sky Ski Patrol triggered many large avalanches over the past few days. These slides occurred on heavily wind loaded slopes facing south and southesat. The side were mostly running on small facets above an ice crust. Photo C. Babineau-Z 

This slide was remotely triggered from 30 feet away in Lightening Creek near Carrot Basin.  It ran on a layer of facets siting on an ice crust.  The facets are widespread throughout the southern Madison Range although they are unstable on only some slopes.  With more snowfall they will likely become reactive.  Photo: Andrew Hobman

We triggered this small soft slab avalanche from 30' away on an east facing slope. It was 1-1.5 feet deep, 75 feet wide and 100 feet vertical.  It broke on a layer of facets on an ice crust. Photo: GNFAC

This small natural avalanche released on a layer of facets buried 18" from the surface.  It likey ran this morning after the snowfall ended. Photo: GNFAC

Skiers remotely triggered an avalanche on steep "pillow lines" near the Soda Butte Campground as they approched these steep slopes from the treed ridge behind them. Photo: W. Miller

Winds yesterday (2/13) in Hyalite Canyon were blowing 35 mph gusting to 60 mph. One gust hit 87 mph. Many slopes were scoured while others have dense wind slabs. Photo: B. Vandenbos