Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center

Well developed depth hoar near the ground wasn't reactive. However, with a big load 1-2" of SWE, avalanches are still possible on this layer.

Triggered small cornice and wind slab (8'x20'x8") on high point.

I would not have skied the steepest part of this slope.

Approx 20 hits before depth hoar began to sluff away below shovel. After digging pit, we traversed skier's right approx 50 feet and experienced a collapse and cracking of the new snow slab sitting on top of a buried surface hoar layer. No surface hoar noted in the pit we dug at this exact location. We observed ECTP 11 and ECTP 6 on the buried surface hoar layer at the location of the collapse and cracking. We descended down the ridge to the lower angle terrain skier's right of the burn area.