Quick report
Spring transition day in the Gros Ventre. The top 6-8” of previously dry snow was becoming wet with the above freezing temperatures. Roller balls, pinwheels, and plenty of difficult travel. More info below.
6-8 inches of newly wet snow was moving slowly on steep features.Weather
- Air Temp
- 35-40 (Tropical)
- Cloud Cover
- broken
Warm and wet out there. Periods of sun, but mostly cloudy. Looked breezy up high with plumes off the ridges.
Snowpack
Snow depths increase significantly from the parking lot to the hot spring, and then even more several miles north. Snow depths were 200-250cm at 7,500’ in this part of the Gros Ventre. Mostly a rightside up and strong snowpack. Notable hardness changes down 160cm (January drought), and down 220cm (basal facets). The snowpack here displays similar characteristics to other deep locations in the region such as the Tetons or Salt Rivers.
Avalanche
Natural loose snow avalanches observed on all aspects up to 9,500’. Beginning around 11am and initiating from cliffs/trees. Some ran several hundred feet. Activity was directly influenced by periods of sun. Only involving the snow from the past several days. None were D2, but some entrained enough snow to knock a person over. No wind slabs or other natural avalanche activity was observed.