This powder cloud from a large avalanche was seen on Black Mountain, up Pine Creek outside Livingston. Located outside our advisory area it is a sign of unstable snow, likely from wind-loading, that can be found throughout southwest Montana. Photo: Anon
21-22
Skiers found a shallow snowpack and very windy conditions today. Snow was moving and loading slopes. Photo: H. Darby
From an obsevation: Skied up towards Arrowhead Bowl from Fairy Lake road. Snowpack is still very thin in the trees as you ascend towards the ridge. Strong westerly winds and exposed rocks deterred us from skiing the bowl itself. Down low we found variable conditions ranging from a few cm of graupel to a few cm of windboard and ice in places. We dug a pit at 8140 feet, 143º SE. The snowpack is 55 cm deep with a very distinct knife hard crust layer from 0-20cm above the ground, we were thinking that could be due to a rain on snow event that fell on top of the October snow.
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Nov 19, 2021
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p>Fresh drifts of new snow are the primary avalanche concern this weekend. Watch for signs that these drifts are unstable such as stiff hollow feeling snow with cracks shooting out in front of you. Be on alert with the new snow, after the last significant snowfall skiers triggered and were caught in the first avalanches of this year (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/24969"><strong><u>details</u></strong>…; from the Fairy Lake area). Even very small slides can have big consequences with all the rocks that are still exposed. </p>
<p>A layered snowpack has started to develop at higher elevations (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/snowpit-fisher-creek-ectv"><stron…;). A natural avalanche last weekend in Cooke City broke 2-3 feet deep on weak layers near the ground (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/natural-avalanche-persistent-weak…;). Any slope that has enough snow coverage that skiing or snowboarding seems remotely like a good idea has enough snow that avalanches are also possible. That doesn’t mean you get a free pass if you’re doing a different activity - hunters, hikers, climbers or anyone else also needs to be thinking about avalanches if you encounter snow covered slopes steeper than 30 degrees.</p>
<p>Remember that there is a long season ahead. Keep your early season stoke in check so you don’t end your season before it really begins. If you’re out and about, let us know what you’re finding (submit observations <a href="https://mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_obs"><strong><u>here</u></strong>…;). Your observations are especially appreciated this time of year as we work to build a mental picture of our newly developing snowpack.</p>
<p>Doug will issue the next update on Monday morning. We are preparing for winter, teaching avalanche classes, and setting up weather stations. If you have avalanche, snowpack or weather observations to share please submit them via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>websi…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong><u>mtavalanche@gmail.com</u></str…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>
<p> </p>
Upcoming Education Opportunities:
Get your avalanche brain ready for the season at one of the many classes listed on our education calendar, and list of upcoming events below. Don’t delay preparing and inspecting your avalanche gear. Get some tips from Dave Zinn in this Pre-Season gear check video.