2018-2019 Island Park / West Yellowstone Snow Reports

[christopher]

Snow was great in the Warm River area of Island Park yesterday!

 

[gonehuntnpowder]

We stopped on a creek bottom for lunch yesterday in the blacks canyon area. Got out my avalanche probe to check snow depth. 9 ft where were at.

 

[IDspud]

So strange the ski doo in our group is lovingly named Lawn Dart.

 

[revrider07]

Would like to see a few frames before the dart action.

 

[CATDIESELPOWER]

Hey WW, need an updated pic of your snow stake.

 

[wwracer]

Believe it or not doesn't look much different than my last post. We've pick up about 10" since Friday, though it's coming down pretty good now. We've been getting weird snow here, almost like sand, snows for days but doesn't seem to add up. Thought the gauge would be at 6' + by now, I'll post up tonight... BTW the roads up were closed as of this morning, and will probably be that way on and off for the next couple of days with all the wind, and drifting. I'd say come up here at your own risk, you may not get back out

 

[christopher]

DUE TO DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS AND NO VISIBILITY, TRAILS WERE NOT GROOMED LAST NIGHT, and most are probably drifted in.

A Big Thank You to the Search and Rescue teams who went out to retrieve lost and stuck snowmobilers yesterday.

Trail grooming reports are available here: http://bit.ly/2jsKqMh
Avalanche danger remains high.

Our local authorities and search and rescue team ask that you are prepared when heading out into the backcountry. Be aware of the current avalanche conditions, know your machine and ride within your abilities.

 

[christopher]

Trails Groomed by West Yellowstone, MT •



Snowmobilers: When using any of the plowed parking areas please be courteous and considerate of others. Move to another riding or parking area if there is no room in the lot and please don’t block other users from exiting.
Warning! Extreme Avalanche Danger!
Use caution at all elevations!


<table style="height: 492px;" width="1201"><thead><tr><th align="left">Trail</th><th align="left">Last Groomed</th><th align="left"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left">2/22/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Big Sky</td><td align="left">2/24/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Cougar Creek</td><td align="left">2/24/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Horse Butte</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Lionhead</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Little Snowy</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Madison Arm Trail</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Power Line West of Town</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">South Plateau Trail</td><td align="left">2/24/19</td><td align="left">Be Aware of the Park Boundary! Snowmobiles must not cross into the Park!</td></tr><tr><td align="left">—– Whiskey Trail</td><td align="left">2/24/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">—– Black Bear Cut Off</td><td align="left">2/24/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">South Plateau to Jct. 23</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left">Be Aware of the Park Boundary! Snowmobiles must not cross into the Park!</td></tr><tr><td align="left">—– Whiskey Trail</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Two Top Loop Trail via South Fork</td><td align="left">2/22/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Two Top Loop Trail via Mosquito</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Junction 8</td><td align="left">2/20/19</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[christopher]

Trails Groomed by Fremont County, ID •



Remember all snowmobiles, regardless of their state/province of origin, are required to purchase an Idaho snowmobile registration. It is the law. All recreation vehicles operating over snow in the winter are required to purchase a snowmobile sticker (A summer OHV sticker is not valid for this activity in the winter). The sticker pays for grooming, plowing of the parking lots and all snowmobile related activities. Without your contribution to the county grooming programs, grooming and parking lot plowing will cease to exist.


<table style="height: 1140px;" width="857"><thead><tr><th align="left">Trail</th><th align="left">Last Groomed</th><th align="left">Comments: Due to weather conditions, the grooming staff was unable to travel to Island Park to groom trails the night of February 24.
</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td align="left">Baker Draw</td><td align="left">2/20/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Big Springs Loop</td><td align="left">2/24/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Black Canyon Trail</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Cave Falls Trail</td><td align="left">2/10/19</td><td align="left">— Idaho’s corner of Yellowstone NP!</td></tr><tr><td align="left">Centennial Loop</td><td align="left">2/24/19</td><td align="left">— Lower</td></tr><tr><td align="left">Chick Creek Trail</td><td align="left">2/22/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Eccles Trail</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Fish Creek – Lower</td><td align="left">2/4/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Fish Creek – Upper</td><td align="left">2/20/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Flagg Ranch Trail/Grassy Lake</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Green Canyon</td><td align="left">2/24/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Island Park Business Area (Island Park Village to Last Chance)</td><td align="left">2/24/19</td><td align="left">— Stamp Meadows
— Flat Rock Trail
— Poleline Trail
— Box Canyon Trail</td></tr><tr><td align="left">Meadow Creek</td><td align="left">2/24/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Highway 47/Mesa Falls Scenic Byway</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Rea’s Pass</td><td align="left">2/24/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Sawtelle Trail/Bootjack</td><td align="left">2/24/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">South Antelope Trail</td><td align="left">2/18/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Two Top Trail/Twin Creek</td><td align="left">2/24/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Valley View /Targhee Pass Trail</td><td align="left">2/8/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Warm River Trail</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">Warm River Springs Trail</td><td align="left">2/23/19</td><td align="left"> </td></tr><tr><td align="left">West Henry’s Lake Flat</td><td align="left">1/30/19</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[christopher]

https://www.mtavalanche.com/forecas...L33vOntYJaYcv3WR-LJbc9GUJD4VTncPJkblOUb9RHkWA





Regional Conditions for Centennial Range



24 Hour Snowfall and Wind
as of 5:00 am
<table class="views-field views-field-data"><tbody><tr><td class="labels">Today</td><td class="details left">20″ | 25-45 SW</td></tr></tbody></table>
Avalanche Warning



Bottom Line: Strong southwest wind drifted over 2 feet of new snow into thick unstable slabs, which will continue to grow with snow and wind today. Large avalanches are likely on all steep slopes and will break naturally. This rapid, heavy load will test the strength of weak layers buried 4-6’ deep at the base of the snowpack, and very large avalanches are possible. Avoid all steep slopes and runout zones below.

====


Avalanche Forecast for Mon Feb 25, 2019


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Good morning. This is Alex Marienthal with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Forecast issued on Monday, February 25^th at 7:00 a.m. Today’s forecast is sponsored by Gallatin County Search and Rescueand Stronghold Fabrication. This forecast does not apply to operating ski areas.

AVALANCHE WARNING​

The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center is issuing a Backcountry Avalanche Warning for the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone and the Centennial Range. Heavy snowfall and strong wind are creating very dangerous avalanche conditions. Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. Avalanche terrain and avalanche runout zones should be avoided. The avalanche danger is rated HIGH on all slopes.



Mountain Weather
Since yesterday the mountains received 20” of snow near West Yellowstone, 12-14” south of Big Sky and near Cooke City, and 4-6” near Bozeman and Big Sky. Temperatures this morning are negatives and single digits F near Bozeman, and teens to low 20s F elsewhere. Wind has been southwest at 20-30 mph with gusts of 40-50 mph, and 5-15 mph in the Bridger Range. Today, temperatures will be teens to low 20s F and wind will be southwest at 20-35 mph. Snow showers will continue and by morning the mountains will have 12-20” of new snow near West Yellowstone and Cooke City with 5-8” near Bozeman and Big Sky.





Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion


Lionhead Range


Avalanche Warning

Since yesterday morning the mountains near West Yellowstone received more than 20” of snow equal to 2.2” of snow water equivalent (SWE). Strong southwest wind drifted this snow into thick unstable slabs, which will continue to grow with snow and wind today. Large avalanches of new and wind-drifted snow are likely on all steep slopes and will break naturally. This rapid, heavy load will test the strength of weak layers buried 4-6’ deep at the base of the snowpack, and very large avalanches are possible (video, video). Avoid all steep slopes and runout zones below. Avalanche danger is HIGH on all slopes.

 

[wwracer]

Not the three to four feet they were predicting, but nothing to sneeze at...

 

[christopher]

Made it up highway 20 to the first unloading area at the top of Ashton hill. Highway department warned up 20 was closed at Robbins Roost and closure could be moving West as the day progressed so be prepare to be trapped the further east we went.

Poring rain in Rigby

Highway 20 was completely clear

Good looking snow at the pullout.
Not a single track could be seen anywhere, and that berm of snow was SOFT not hard.
Two other trucks pulled up while we were there and offloaded.
They were having a blast by the time we bailed.

Completely DEAD SLED when it came time to unload. Had to give up after screwing with it for 30 minutes and drive all the way back home[emoji22][emoji22]

 

[CATDIESELPOWER]

Looking good up there. Bummer about the dead sled.

 

[christopher]

Looking good up there. Bummer about the dead sled.

Ya that Sucked.
But what sucked even MORE was finding out what was wrong with it.
The sled fired up at home just fine and drove into the trailer, up in IP it fired up again no problem and was idling fine. Pushed the Reverse button and the Poo Died, and just refused to restart.


Got the dang thing home and somehow the engine had FLOODED when it went into reverse. Since it was running smoothly NONE of us even considered that as a possible problem. We were all sure it was something electrical.


Stupid Boneheaded Mistake..

 

[Ox]

Carb'd sled?


.

 

[christopher]

AVALANCHE WARNING

ISSUED ON February 27 2019 at 4:30 a.m.

The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center is continuing a Backcountry Avalanche Warning for the southern Gallatin and southern Madison Ranges, the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone, the Centennial Range, and the mountains around Cooke City. Heavy snowfall and strong wind are creating very dangerous avalanche conditions. Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. Avalanche terrain and avalanche runout zones should be avoided. The avalanche danger is rated HIGH on all slopes. Contact the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center for more detailed information.

 

[iplocal]

Avi death yesterday up by Bridger ski resort. Be safe out there guys. I am going to try and take a sled fro here on Henrys Lake to Robins Roost. HWY 20 remains closed, apparently it wont be open until tomorrow? Its still snowing here now but not heavy. I guess there are a number of stranded or abandoned cars on HWY 20 that is greatly slowing the plows progress...

 

[IDspud]

Anymore educated guesses or news on hwy opening? Set to go fri morning....

 

[christopher]

Anymore educated guesses or news on hwy opening? Set to go fri morning....

<table class="reportTitleCritical" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="verticalAlignMiddle">

</td> <td class="verticalAlignMiddle fullWidth"> US 20: Road closed.


Between Spruce Street (Ashton) and The Montana State Line (3 miles east of the Island Park area). The road is closed. Look out for drifting snow on the roadway. Expect blowing snow.
Web Comment: Milepost 361 to 406 from Ashton to the Montana State Line.

Last updated today at 4:02pm MST




REALITY..
The road IS OPEN from Ashton to Robbin's Roost.
But the moment you pass Robin's Roost you will hit massive blowing and drifting snow.
MANY STRANDED vehicles still need to be MOVED so the plows can get through.


</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

 

[IDspud]

You just made my night. It’s been years since I passed Robbins roost!

Still hoping they get it cleared quick for many reasons.