24-25

Point releases, wet loose in Beehive/Middle Basin

Date
Activity
Skiing

Toured around Beehive and Middle Basins this morning, finding predictably bulletproof snow on most aspects but decent turns aided by the 2-4 inches of snow from last night on northerly terrain that hadn’t been destroyed by the sun this week. There were a few brief moments of direct sun throughout the morning, which almost instantaneously triggered point releases from steeper rocky terrain. On the way back through Beehive we observed some much larger debris piles that weren’t there this morning from the steel rocky face between the Going Home chute and the prayer flags. 

Region
Northern Madison
Location (from list)
Beehive Basin
Observer Name
Henry Coppolillo

GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Mar 29, 2025

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Today is a transition day, between the warmth and mostly dry weather of the last week and the snowy pattern that is setting up for the coming week. </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>This transition leaves us in a bit of a lull today, with large avalanches unlikely and </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>generally safe conditions</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>With temperatures below freezing this morning and only expected to get a little above freezing today, the wet snow concerns we’ve been dealing with all week should be minimal. Some areas might not have a stout crust at the surface this morning and in others it might break down today, so do look out for </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wet Loose avalanches </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>if you’re sinking more than ankle deep into wet snow. Treed, low elevation slopes facing the southern half of a compass are where you’re most likely to encounter this lingering wet snow.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>There is a little bit of new snow this morning and a bit more may fall today, but it won’t be enough to make for much avalanche hazard. There may be some thin wind drifts that could break as small </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>, but at most, these would only be an issue in extreme terrain where losing your footing or getting pushed a few feet off course would have big consequences.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is LOW today.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Conditions will be changing with the new snow over the coming days, so make sure to check the again for the latest updates before heading out.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

Wet Snow in the Southern Madison

Date
Activity
Snowmobiling

We rode into the Taylor Fork, up to the weather station, and out towards the wilderness boundary. Temperatures were around 40 degrees at the car. There was a surficial refreeze last night with a skiff of graupel on top. With mostly sunny skies and calm winds the snow surface dampened quickly. 

We dug down on two sunny aspects (E-SE) and noted moist snow throughout the snowpack. In our first snowpit (9220', HS:108) we did not get notable test results (ECTX). We found that although faceted snow remains at the base of the snowpack, water has percolated down and moistened these basal layers. 

We also dug on a NW aspect (8800', HS:199) with no notable test results (ECTX). Moist snow exists in the upper 1.5' of the snowpack with dry snow to the ground. 

We noted no cracking or collapsing. We saw a good number of wet-loose avalanches on steep sunny slopes, but all were relatively small in width and depth. 

 

Region
Southern Madison
Location (from list)
Taylor Fork
Observer Name
H. Darby

Limited re-freeze in Southern Bridgers

Date
Activity
Skiing

We skied Saddle as early as we could after the lifts opened, but we were still a bit late, and/or there was limited overnight refreeze, I suspect more of the latter. Clear-ish skies overnight had me optimistic, but warms temps seem to have dominated below 9000 ft.

The first 100 vertical feet from the summit skied quite well where a thin melt-freeze crust was just starting to break down. Overcast skies and L-M winds likely limited warming. Below 9000 ft we poked around and found the top 15-20cm was moist and unsupportive on NE-SE aspects. We kicked off numerous roller balls but no actual loose wet avalanches. 

The best skiing was in previously skied areas, such as the guts of going home chute, or in-bounds.

Region
Bridger Range
Location (from list)
Saddle Peak
Observer Name
N. deLeeuw
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