Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center

Level 1 Pit Profile

Snowpack mostly facets. This slope had a wind slab that promoted propagation. Most slopes just weak, but no slab to make them unstable. Snowpack 500' higher was 110cm of mostly facets.

12"+ new snow in 48 hours. Broke trail most of the way from parking lot and did not get any large cracks or collapsing. Small slab of recent snow ~2-4' deep below Beehive S. Face on loaded, 35-40degree slope.

Avalanche Warning. I think most slopes collapsed and that is why the stability tests do not reflect instability.

The snowpack on this aspect was deeper, but still non-cohesive. The lack of a cohesive slab was preventing conditions from being unstable.

PST had a high score because it was difficult to keep the saw in the weak layer (I think). Visibility was poor so I could not tell if there were many naturals. Avalanche Warning in effect.

Surprised the facets at the ground are not bigger.