23-24

Skier triggered avalanche in Mullet near Big Sky

Lone Lake Cirque
Northern Madison
Code
HS-ASu-R3-D2.5-O
Elevation
10200
Aspect
NW
Latitude
45.27710
Longitude
-111.46400
Notes

From BSSP on 2/17/24: "Midafternoon we received another report of a skier triggered avalanche in the Lone Lake Circe, specifically The Mullet. The reporting party contacted several ski patrollers via cell phone and confirmed that nobody was injured or had taken the full ride. This avalanche failed near the ground on a high elevation NW facing slope with the weight of a single skier with an estimated size of HS-ASu-R3-D2.5-O."

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Hard slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
3
D size
2.5
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness
24.0 inches
Vertical Fall
690ft
Slab Width
100.00ft
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

From BSSP on 2/17/24: "Midafternoon we received another report of a skier triggered avalanche in the Lone Lake Circe, specifically The Mullet. The reporting party contacted several ski patrollers via cell phone and confirmed that nobody was injured or had taken the full ride. This avalanche failed near the ground on a high elevation NW facing slope with the weight of a single skier with an estimated size of HS-ASu-R3-D2.5-O."

Northern Madison, 2024-02-18

From BSSP on 2/17/24: "Midafternoon we received another report of a skier triggered avalanche in the Lone Lake Circe, specifically The Mullet. The reporting party contacted several ski patrollers via cell phone and confirmed that nobody was injured or had taken the full ride. This avalanche failed near the ground on a high elevation NW facing slope with the weight of a single skier with an estimated size of HS-ASu-R3-D2.5-O."

Northern Madison, 2024-02-18

Skier triggered avalanche in Mullet near Big Sky

Date
Activity
Skiing

From BSSP on 2/17/24: "Midafternoon we received another report of a skier triggered avalanche in the Lone Lake Circe, specifically The Mullet. The reporting party contacted several ski patrollers via cell phone and confirmed that nobody was injured or had taken the full ride. This avalanche failed near the ground on a high elevation NW facing slope with the weight of a single skier with an estimated size of HS-ASu-R3-D2.5-O."

Region
Northern Madison
Location (from list)
Lone Lake Cirque
Observer Name
BSSP

Rider Partially buried, Sunlight Basin, Taylor Fork

Taylor Fork
Southern Madison
Code
AMu-R3-D2-O
Elevation
9000
Aspect
N
Latitude
44.96800
Longitude
-111.28700
Notes

From obs 2/17/24: "North facing slope partially treelined, not heavily windloaded. Rider triggered, Ran 100yards downhill with large debris through trees, broke 2-3' deep at the crown sliding on near earth facets. 1 rider partially caught, airbag deployed, self-extracted with no injuries."

Number of slides
1
Number caught
1
Number buried
1
Trigger
Snowmobile
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
3
D size
2
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness
30.0 inches
Vertical Fall
300ft
Weak Layer Grain type
Faceted Crystals
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Natural through thick trees in Tepee

Tepee Basin
Southern Madison
Code
N-R3-D2
Aspect
S
Latitude
44.90410
Longitude
-111.18500
Notes

From FB 02/17/24: "Observed runout debris from a small avalanche on a south facing forested slope in Upper Tepee Basin. Shows avalanches can occur through forested areas."

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
3
D size
2
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Natural near Buck Ridge

Buck Ridge
Northern Gallatin
Code
N-R3-D2.5-O
Elevation
9800
Aspect
NW
Latitude
45.17600
Longitude
-111.45900
Notes

Lots of natural activity up buck ridge. The one photoed looked like it popped off this morning. Most activity we saw seemed to be on northern facing aspects

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
3
D size
2.5
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness
24.0 inches
Vertical Fall
690ft
Slab Width
375.00ft
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Debris from recent slide through thick trees

Date
Activity
Snowmobiling

From FB 02/17/24: "Observed runout debris from a small avalanche on a south facing forested slope in Upper Tepee Basin. Shows avalanches can occur through forested areas."

Region
Southern Madison
Location (from list)
Tepee Basin
Observer Name
Chris Sexton