Photos

From obs 1/29/22: (from outside advisory area) "Saw a snowmobiler trigger a wind slab avalanche of an east facing slope near the head of the Weatherwax Creek drainage on Kings Hill. The rider was not caught. Despite a recent 18" snowfall reported by Showdown, there was almost no snow left on the trail above the slope due to high winds. The crown appeared to be 12-18" deep and about 100 feet wide, and the slide ran about 300 feet." Photo: C. Mozol

We rode at Lionhead today (Jan. 29, 2022) and found very weak snow on the surface which is not a problem now, but will be when we get more snow. Photo: GNFAC

Natural and skier triggered 2" deep loose snow avalanches in Argentina Bowl south of Saddle Peak on 1/27/22. There is also an older cornice break visible that gouged the slope below 1-2' deep, but did not break out a wider avalanche. Photo: GNFAC

Old debris from an avalanche that broke on the night of 1/25 or earlier. The crown is obscured by clouds and drifted in. Our tracks are visible crossing the bed surface up high. Photo: GNFAC

Snowpit in the crown of an avalanche on the south summit of Saddle Peak. It broke on 1/25/22 or earlier, 6-8" deep, 1,000' wide, hard slab on weak faceted snow. Photo: GNFAC

We saw this avalanche on 1/26/22 on the south summit of Saddle, and extending across the bowl Between the Peaks. Photo: GNFAC

This is the location where the skier came to a stop after being caught and carried by a small avalanche in the Bridger Range.

From Obs: "While skiing the playground, a northeast aspect off the Bridgers, my friends and I released a wind slab. The slab released on a rollover and was approximately 20 ft wide and 6-12" deep at the top. The slide carried my friend about 150 ft." Photo: Anonymous

The crown of a small avalanche that caught and carried a skier in the Bridger Range on Sunday. 

From Obs: "While skiing the playground, a northeast aspect off the Bridgers, my friends and I released a wind slab. The slab released on a rollover and was approximately 20 ft wide and 6-12" deep at the top. The slide carried my friend about 150 ft." Photo: Anonymous

The track of a small avalanche that caught and carried a skier in the Bridger Range on Sunday. 

From Obs: "While skiing the playground, a northeast aspect in the Bridgers, my friends and I released a wind slab. The slab released on a rollover and was approximately 20 ft wide and 6-12" deep at the top. The slide carried my friend about 150 ft." Photo: Anonymous

This test broke and propagated with some "extracurricular" hits in an extended column test in Beehive Basin. Photo: N Rustigian

From Obs 1/23: "While on the ridgeline on the way up we triggered many small wind drifted pockets."

A snowmobile triggered wind slab on small slope in the northern Bridgers on 1/22/22. 

A layer of surface hoar that was buried by the recent snow in the southern Madison Range. Photo (1/22/22): G. Turnage

From email on 1/22/22: "This morning (20220122) I was ascending a steep North facing couloir up the N summit of Republic Mountain and on ascent (boot packing) about 1/2 way up the line I triggered a small soft slab from that propagated around the rock I was tucked behind, 40M above me and and 20M across. Luckily, my ascent line was sheltered from any above exposure and I was not caught or carried in anyway. The crown ranged from 8cm where I triggered it to an estimated 25cm at its deepest. The avalanche ran an estimated 200M. I believe the windslab ran on 1-3mm NSF's (evident on the bed surface) formed in the high pressure before the recent light precip."

From email 1/22/22: "Several dry loose naturals on Climax in steep terrain. Perhaps from Thursday or Friday?" Photo: N. Hance

Snowmobilers observed several small, dry loose avalanches in the new snow on Crown Butte on 1/21/22. Photo: R. DeSilva

Snowmobilers observed small, naturally triggered avalanches on Crown Butte. This avalanche occurred in the new snow on a wind-loaded slope. Photo: R. DeSilva

Observers noted very small, skier-triggered avalanches in the new snow on Chimney Rock. Photo: R. DeSilva

On January 18, 2022 a weak layer of surface hoar was buried by 1-2" of new snow near Cooke City. As more snow builds a slab over this weak layer it will cause avalanches. Photo: GNFAC