Natural point release avalanche observed from the YC. Occurred out of bounds on the South side of Pioneer Mountain.
Kicked off a wind slab avalanche 25ft wide on the west ridge of beehive basin. The wind slab was around 8-10ft deep and the debris slid almost to the flat a few hundred feet down the slope. The slide occurred around 9100ft on the east aspect. Neither me nor my partner were carried or caught in the slide.
The windslab that broke off was about 8-10 feet tall. It was mostly a huge section of a cornice that broke and the slope it fell down onto seemed to propagate a few inches down as well. The majority of the debris was from the cornice.
In nearly 45 miles of riding, we noted two avalanches. Both breaking on persistent weak layers a few feet down in the snowpack. The first was a small north-facing pocket in the First Yellow Mule (R1-D1) that was snowmobile triggered. It looked to be around a week old. The second was a larger avalanche (R3-D2), east-facing, deep in Muddy Creek. This was drifted in and likely broke around 2.5 weeks ago during the last significant storm cycle.
Came across a old slide in the hell roaring drainage heading towards Gallatin. East facing. Happened sometime before the recent snow but not long ago. Initial crown seemed to be 12-18 inches and stepped down further down the slope. Was a fairly large debris pile. Photo: S Knowles
Old Avalanche spotted from Wilson yesterday looking North. Possible cornice fall trigger during the warm up but difficult to tell as it was quite a ways away. Photo attached. Photo: Anonymous
PWL avalanche (R3-D2), east-facing, deep in Muddy Creek. This was drifted in and likely broke around 2.5 weeks ago during the last significant storm cycle. Photo: GNFAC
We dug a snowpit near the lower flank of the avalanche path and noted that these weak layers had gained strength over time. We did get propagation on a stout melt-freeze crust near the surface (ECTP5) but did not get propagation lower down on faceted grains. Photo: GNFAC
We saw a small north-facing avalanche in the First Yellow Mule (R1-D1) that was snowmobile triggered. It looked to be around a week old. Photo: GNFAC
Natural point release avalanche observed from the YC. Occurred out of bounds on the South side of Pioneer Mountain. Photo: YC Ski Patrol
From obs.: "Saw a recent cornice triggered wind slab off of Hardscrabble Peak, crown looked fairly fresh. There was a second crown line below the rock band. Conditions were very windy, with snow still being transported. Most snow surfaces were wind affected, but saw no cracking or collapsing." Photo: F. Miller
Cracking in the new and wind-drifted snow on the Ridge of Middle Basin. These resulted in a narrow avalanche that ran quite far.
Photo: GNFAC
Buck Ridge, snowmobile triggered avalanche. Propagated in the storm slab. Photo: C Erhard
Swift Current lift shut down all day Wednesday 2/5/25 by ski patrol
On the headwall of the Second Yellow Mule, we saw two recent wind slab avalanches. These were small (R1 D1), immediately below the ridge, and likely broke late last night or this morning. Photo: GNFAC
On the headwall of the Second Yellow Mule, we saw two recent wind slab avalanches. These were small (R1 D1), immediately below the ridge, and likely broke late last night or this morning. Photo: GNFAC
Strong winds blew all day from the SW, sustaining 30mph at ridgelines. Snow was actively transported all day by winds, and plumes were visible on far away ridgelines and summits. Photo: GNFAC
This slab from my ski cut was about 20” deep and 60’ wide. It’s NE facing so pretty wind blown. Photo: S Budac
Cracking and isolated pockets of wind slab in Beehive.
Human triggered release of cornice overhang near the weather station on Buck Ridge. Recent activity next to the small release. Crown 1-2’ deep, 40’ run, 75’ across running over the tracks riding underneath in the recent wind transported slab.
We also spotted a small, snowmobile triggered avalanche on a steep, east facing slope in Muddy Creek. Photo: USFS Snow Rangers
Saw this cool illustration of wind deposition, scouring and unaffected snow on a ridge line near the top of Bear Creek at the far end of Buck Ridge. Photo: USFS Snow Rangers
Photo: M R
The surface evolved throughout the day, so we must continue tracking its progression. We found surface hoar in the valley of Beehive, where inverted temperatures were the coldest, crusts with near-surface facets below, and some straight near-surface facet—recycled powder, along with thicker crust and wet snow. Photo: GNFAC
The surface evolved throughout the day, so we must continue tracking its progression. We found surface hoar in the valley of Beehive, where inverted temperatures were the coldest, crusts with near-surface facets below, and some straight near-surface facet—recycled powder, along with thicker crust and wet snow. Photo: GNFAC
Recent avalanches noted on the NE-E aprons on cedar mountain. SS-N-R2-3-D2-I These appeared to have possibly happened during the last storm cycle and looked to be isolated to layers within the new old snow interface. I also noted similar activity on the same aspects on the adjacent ridge during our approach.
Recent avalanches noted on the NE-E aprons on cedar mountain. SS-N-R2-3-D2-I These appeared to have possibly happened during the last storm cycle and looked to be isolated to layers within the new old snow interface. I also noted similar activity on the same aspects on the adjacent ridge during our approach.
Jan 24, Buck Ridge... We dug on an E facing slope at 9,400'. Snow depth was 155cm (5 feet) and we had an ECTN12 on the surface hoar layer 10" down. Photo GNFAC
Large wind transport in Spanish peaks. Photo: T Blakeway
Surface hoar was on the snow surface today. It likely wont' survive to be buried. Sunshine on south aspects was already destroying it.
Snowpit and ECT result from small slope just above Beehive Creek at 8200 ft.
Facets in thinner snowpack areas are larger, weaker, and could possibly cause an avalnache
Snowpit from the top of Tyler's slope in Beehive Basin, W facing, 9200 ft. This is representative of an area with thin snow that is weaker
On Tuesday, January 19, 2016, a Yellowstone Club (YC) Ski Patroller triggered an avalanche on a wind-loaded slope which released on his second turn. The slide broke 2-4 feet deep, 300 feet wide and carried him through a terrain trap of thick trees. He was partially buried 300 vertical feet below in the toe of the debris. His partners reached him within three minutes, but the trauma was fatal.
The YCSP created a non-profit to remember their colleague and friend, Darren Johnson. And, to support ski patrollers across the country by providing scholarships for avalanche education and attendance at the National Avalanche School.
The Yellowstone Club Ski Patrol noted multiple large avalanches on different bowls and aspects of Cedar Mountain at approximately 9400 feet elevation. Photo: YCSP
The Yellowstone Club Ski Patrol noted multiple large avalanches on different bowls and aspects of Cedar Mountain at approximately 9400 feet elevation. Photo: YCSP
From IG 1/3: “Buck ridge today. NE aspect. Probably 100’ wide and at least 3’ deep. Looked like it was triggered by a snowmobiler earlier in the day.” Photo: P Rockwell
From IG 1/3: “Buck ridge today. NE aspect. Probably 100’ wide and at least 3’ deep. Looked like it was triggered by a snowmobiler earlier in the day.” Photo: P Rockwell
Triggered slide in Beaver Creek 1 Jan 2024
Found a bigger pocket that had pulled out on steeper terrain in the 1st Yellow Mule no tracks around since we were the first in there. Photo: Anonymous
Found a bigger pocket that had pulled out on steeper terrain in the 1st Yellow Mule no tracks around since we were the first in there. Photo: Anonymous
Noticed a small 8-10” wind slab pocket on the way in, looked like storm load but could have been sled triggered from the top. Photo: Anonymous
Tonight
Low: 23 °F
Partly Cloudy
Wednesday
High: 34 °F
Mostly Sunny
then Partly
Sunny and
Breezy
Wednesday Night
Low: 28 °F
Mostly Cloudy
and Breezy
then Slight
Chance Snow
Thursday
High: 31 °F
Snow Showers
Thursday Night
Low: 14 °F
Heavy Snow
Friday
High: 21 °F
Chance Snow
Friday Night
Low: 12 °F
Mostly Cloudy
Saturday
High: 22 °F
Snow Likely
Saturday Night
Low: 14 °F
Chance Snow
