23-24

Slide Under Saddle Peak Cliff

Saddle Peak
Bridger Range
Code
R2-D2-O
Aspect
NE
Latitude
45.79430
Longitude
-110.93600
Notes

The trigger of this avalanche is unknown but there are many ski tracks in and out of the path of the avalanche. Another party in the area the day before said this slope had not avalanched. 

 

From obs: "The location is the knoll under the Saddle Peak cliff that can be accessed by traversing through the southern boundary gate from Bridger Bowl. The slide propagated on a NE aspect going into a gully. The crown looked to be 1-2 feet tall with an approximate width of 30 feet. There are numerous tracks that go in and out of the slide path, but could not tell if it was triggered by a skier. A friend who I was with said that the slide had not been there the day before."

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
R size
2
D size
2
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Slab Thickness
18.0 inches
Slab Width
30.00ft
Images
Saddle Peak Cliffs Debris 2
Saddle Peak Cliffs Debris
Avalanche Below Saddle Peak Cliffs
Snow Observation Source
Slide Under Saddle Peak Cliff
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year
23-24

From obs: "The location is the knoll under the Saddle Peak cliff that can be accessed by traversing through the southern boundary gate from Bridger Bowl. The slide propagated on a NE aspect going into a gully. The crown looked to be 1-2 feet tall with an approximate width of 30 feet. There are numerous tracks that go in and out of the slide path, but could not tell if it was triggered by a skier. A friend who I was with said that the slide had not been there the day before." 

Avalanche Details: Slide Under Saddle Peak Cliff
Bridger Range, 2024-01-25
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    • From obs: "The location is the knoll under the Saddle Peak cliff that can be accessed by traversing through the southern boundary gate from Bridger Bowl. The slide propagated on a NE aspect going into a gully. The crown looked to be 1-2 feet tall with an approximate width of 30 feet. There are numerous tracks that go in and out of the slide path, but could not tell if it was triggered by a skier. A friend who I was with said that the slide had not been there the day before." 

    Avalanche Details: Slide Under Saddle Peak Cliff
    Bridger Range, 2024-01-25
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    • From obs: "The location is the knoll under the Saddle Peak cliff that can be accessed by traversing through the southern boundary gate from Bridger Bowl. The slide propagated on a NE aspect going into a gully. The crown looked to be 1-2 feet tall with an approximate width of 30 feet. There are numerous tracks that go in and out of the slide path, but could not tell if it was triggered by a skier. A friend who I was with said that the slide had not been there the day before." 

    Avalanche Details: Slide Under Saddle Peak Cliff
    Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Jan 26, 2024GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Jan 28, 2024
    Bridger Range, 2024-01-25
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    • From ob submitted on 01/25: Skiers on 01/23 remotely triggered an avalanche from above while riding along the ridgeline, marked with the red x. Photo taken in the valley after skiing low-angle terrain. Photo: A. Schield

     

    Avalanche Details: Remote Triggered Avalanche Near Woody Creek, Cooke City
    Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Jan 28, 2024
    Cooke City, 2024-01-25
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    • Remote Triggered Avalanche Near Woody Creek, Cooke City

    COOKE CITY
    Cooke City
    Code
    SS-ASr-R1-D2
    Elevation
    9400
    Latitude
    44.99630
    Longitude
    -109.90200
    Notes

    While skiing a zone called "ollies woods", a southern aspect that's relatively low angle, we noted widespread loud whumphing of the snowpack in the trees. I Spent some time traversing around the tree'd face on the way down to my group, traveling far right to a sub-ridge where the aspect changed to east, the terrain became more open, and slope angle became steeper. I felt a large whumph, paused, and turned around descending the rest of the southern aspect to the valley bottom.

     

    Once back to the valley bottom, I saw a recent avalanche had slid just below where I was standing earlier on the sub-ridge. Looking from a far, the crown looked about 10" - 15" deep, 60'-100' wide, and fractured on a layer of facets. The slope angle was 31 degrees and at 9100ft elevation. See photo, x marks my relative location when I heard the "whumph"

     

    Number of slides
    1
    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Avalanche Type
    Soft slab avalanche
    Trigger
    Skier
    Trigger Modifier
    r-A remote avalanche released by the indicated trigger
    R size
    1
    D size
    2
    Problem Type
    Persistent Weak Layer
    Slab Thickness
    12.0 inches
    Slab Width
    100.00ft
    Images
    Remote Triggered Avalanche Near Woody Creek 01/23
    Snow Observation Source
    Remote Triggered Avalanche Near Woody Creek, Cooke City
    Slab Thickness units
    inches
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Single Avalanche
    Advisory Year
    23-24

    Collapsing and Avalanches on Test Slopes, Cooke City

    COOKE CITY
    Cooke City
    Code
    Latitude
    44.99630
    Longitude
    -109.90200
    Notes

    A group in Cooke City observed several signs of instability including widespread collapsing, small avalanches on test slopes, and recent avalanche activity.

     

    From obs: "Observed extremely unstable avalanche conditions while ski touring in the Woody Creek Drainage south of Cooke City for the past 4 days. While traveling through the valley floor, I noted whumphing, collapsing, and cracking in the snowpack. I was able to trigger small slides on steeper test slopes just above creek beds from 50-60 feet away. I noted several larger avalanches up high, on all aspects. We played it safe and stuck to skiing and traveling through slopes under 25 degrees and limited our exposure time under large avalanche paths."

     

     

    Number of slides
    0
    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Snow Observation Source
    Remote Triggered Avalanche Near Woody Creek, Cooke City
    Slab Thickness units
    centimeters
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Red Flag
    Advisory Year
    23-24

    The M to Bridger Bowl Traverse

    Date
    Activity
    Skiing

    Toured from the M to Bridger Bowl. Conditions varied from windswept ridge line to wind slab, to soft snow. Often times the W side of the ridge was completely windswept while the E side had a cornice.  Cornices were all small in size. I found once pocket of snow on the W side that collapsed under me, and shot cracks above and in front of me, causing me to back out and move higher in the cliff band to continue my traverse. No other avalanche activity noted, and the slide on Saddle wasn't apparent from my vantage.

    Region
    Bridger Range
    Observer Name
    C. Robinson

    Slide Under Saddle Peak Cliff

    Date
    Activity
    Skiing

    I did not stick around long enough to investigate the slide so I apologize for the lack of information, but figured I'd share the photos. The location is the knoll under the Saddle Peak cliff that can be accessed by traversing through the southern boundary gate from Bridger Bowl. The slide propagated on a NE aspect going into a gully. The crown looked to be 1-2 feet tall with an approximate width of 30 feet. There are numerous tracks that go in and out of the slide path, but could not tell if it was triggered by a skier. A friend who I was with said that the slide had not been there the day before. 

    Region
    Bridger Range
    Location (from list)
    Saddle Peak
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