Skier-Triggered wind slabs in the N. Bridgers

Fairy Lake
Bridger Range
Code
HS-ASu-R1-D2-I
Elevation
8000
Aspect
E
Latitude
45.90450
Longitude
-110.95700
Notes

Two groups in the Northern Bridgers noted signs of instability in wind-transported snow and were able to t trigger wind slabs. From one email: "My partner and I toured up in the Northern Bridgers today near Ainger Lake and found conditions to be more touchy than we expected. The wind was blowing hard when we entered the basin, and we observed some snow transport. As we got higher, we observed variable wind affected snow and thin win wind slab nd dug a pit finding no notable weak layers aside from the win wind slab ich was breaking off in chunks as we skinned. We witnessed a shooting crack through the win wind slab at was 2-5 cm thick where we were, and soon after triggered a small sli slide d turned around. At its deepest the crown was around 15 cm thick, so a lot thicker than what we had previously been seeing! It wasn't a problem where we were, probably about enough to knock someone down and take them for a short ride, but could have been consequential in more dangerous terrain." Photos: E. Birkeland, E. Marcoux

Multiple Avalanches
Number of slides
2
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Number killed
0
Avalanche Type
Hard slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
1
D size
2
Bed Surface
I - Interface between new and old snow
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
15.0 centimeters
Slab Layer Grain Type
Wind packed
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year