23-24

We saw a lot of action (unstable snowpack) in Taylor Fork today. At Sunlight Basin, we remotely triggered an avalanche while walking on the flat ridge above a wind-loaded slope. The avalanche broke below a 12" deep slab with 1.5" of snow water equivalent in the slab, and it failed on a layer of large (1-1.5cm) surface hoar. Video, pics, and crown profile attached. We also saw a small wind loaded slope that was triggered (remotely) by riders yesterday, and we triggered a similar slope today. These were short slopes, but the slabs broke over 1 foot deep and as wide as the terrain feature, and they were triggered from adjacent flat terrain 10-40 feet away (remotely triggered). 

While riding around we frequently saw large shooting cracks on any slope with a slight wind-load/wind-effect. Near the wilderness boundary we saw these large cracks across the snow surface. In quick hand pits we easily found a weak layer of surface hoar below the recent snow that was 3-4cm long crystals, standing upright!!! (pics attached). 

Wind was moderate out of the west, actively loading slopes and filling in tracks all day. Mostly cloudy/partly sunny morning. Started snowing in carrot basin around 1pm, shortly before we left.

On Jan. 11, we toured north of Bridger Bowl after a foot of low-density snow fell, totaling 0.2" of snow-water equivalent. The snow was light and fell with minimal winds. Our concerns are loose snow avalanches (sluffs) and that our weak snowpack is getting incrementally tested by the weight of new snow and we don't know exactly when it will hit its breaking point. There were several small (D1) skier-triggered loose snow avalanches in Wolverine Bowl and the Hourglass. In the snowpits we dug, we didn't see this incremental loading pushing the weak layers to the edge. However,  that is not the case everywhere in the Bridger Range where winds are active and this new low-density snow is being transported, further pushing the weak snowpack toward the edge. Looking north towards Naya Nuki we could see snow being transported at ridge tops while the wind remained calm near us. Employ conservative decision-making along with careful route finding and a thorough snowpack assessment if you are considering traveling on steeper slopes. When the wind ramps up expect the danger to increase and slopes to become more unstable. 

ECT Test Pit

Elevation: 7420’

Aspect: NE

HS: 96 cm

ECTN 27

ECTX

Instructor performed PST END 45/100  @ 20cm from base.

Aspect- SW

HS-65”

17cm from top, we saw ECTN#16

picture of pit location

Skied the S/SE face of Blackmore this morning. Had several large collapses lower in the basin, as well as the ridge. As NOAA predicted, winds started cranking at 10:30am which was time to go, most of the tracks in the area were covered up within an hour.  

Our lower ridge has not been controlled or touched yet this year so very indicative the backcountry snowpack. It released sometime before the morning of Jan 10. Photo: YCSP