Plentiful snow on the west side of the Bridger Range was being transported to the East side. Fresh wind slabs were forming near ridgetops. As these wind slabs were forming they were starting to crack under my ski tips. With additional loading overnight these wind slabs should become much more sensitive. Photo: GNFAC
The Bridger, Madison and Gallatin Ranges, and the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone, the mountains around Cooke City and the Washburn Range:
Today is a day of transition.
Two things have the potential to ramp up the avalanche danger and create lingering instability and tricky assessment.
1. Yesterday, we formed surface weak layers which are now preserved under 1-2 inches of snow.
2. The winds are increasing and will begin to load many slopes.
The mountains around Cooke City and the Washburn Range:
The mountains around Cooke City and the Washburn Range:
New snow and wind produced natural avalanches outside of Cooke City. Photo Beau Fredlund
Located in the S. Madison near Beaver Creek, this avalanche was triggered by a cornice drop. It broke about 150 feet wide, up to 5 feet deep (averaged 2-3 feet). The cornices pulled back onto shallower angeled terrain, a dangerous but common occurrence with cornices. The avalanche released all the windblown snow on the leeward slide and funneled it down a steep, narrow gully; a likely unsurvivable ride. Photo: GNFAC
