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Thanks. I've been on the GFNAC email since day 1 in MT. Just got linked to the other weather site earlier this week.

Went up to Bridger yesterday and will again today. Not much to report stability wise. Stayed on lower angle meadows since coverage just isn't that deep yet. Stable or otherwise there seems to be opportunities to hurt yourself out there. I'm heading back today, so maybe I'll dig a quick pit and see how the old/new snow is bonding. Maybe try to find some wind slabs as well to mess around with.

I found this video which shows a pretty high energy slough. It seems to me the old/new snow here isn't bounding well but the new snow isn't quite strong enough to create a larger slab avalanche.

Priceless. I'm just as psyched as the next shredder to start getting after it, but I've been riding for a long time and the lion's share of ski/snowboard injuries I've seen have occurred during early season. It's also the only time I have been seriously injured while shredding.

I now tend to employ the "2 foot rule" and wait until there's about 24" consolidated snow at most of the snotels around here. Seems to work pretty well for me.

My buddies and I called off our planned snowboarding trip for today after we surveyed the conditions while XC skiing yesterday. Goods things are on the horizon - no need to put core shots in my board (or worse, my face) in subpar snow.

If you need some SW Montana stoke the entire Radbots film is up on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/52396100

Went up to bridger bowl but didn't get out of the car. Wind was the story and it looked boilerplate from the car. My old lady wasn't fired up on the prospects of hiking for shallow likely rock hard snow so we just went out for a drive instead of a hike. Totally different story from yesterday. Major wind activity up there. There was fresh surface hoar in my tire tracks today from last nights cold and calm spell. Hard to say if it formed up on the hill as well, but I wouldn't be surprised.

This, from TGR:
Deadly Winter - A Look At A Yearlong Avalanche Cycle In Montana
http://www.tetongravity.com/blogs/Deadly-Winter-A-Look-At-A-Yearlong-Avalanche-Cycle-In-Montana-6463593.htm

From the article:


*boldface added.

Those photos are something else. Jeezus. Good reminder of how bad it can get.

Yeah, and at least some of my weather watching friends tell me that this year is predicted to be a lot like the last. I was considering buying a new split but might instead get a solid in anticipation of hanging out inbounds a bit more.

Hmmm, life's pretty rough when that's one of the bigger dilemmas facing a person.

Has anyone been up the upper reaches of Hyalite yet?

You may wish to post on montanaice.com regarding this, Nick. The users there are obviously focused on ice but I've found good data there in the past.

http://montanaice.com/forum/ice-conditions/hyalite

I went hiking at lick creek last weekend. The snow became consistent around 7000 feet. Maybe a little earlier. Higher elevations obviously had more snow, nothing seemed worthy of downhill equipment. Everything is south facing and obviously more beat up. Couldn't get a close look on anything more than 8400 feet either. I was planning on doing some glorified cross-country skiing this saturday up towards blackmore to explore since I've never been there, and to get some first hand beta on snow conditions. I'm going with the expectations on only riding the approach trail if anything.

Nice... post up on how it goes. 15" is a little shallow yet but that shoulder of Blackmore could be good to go. Not quite enough to make me want to head over just yet but that could all change this week/weekend.