Observed a large wet loose (D1) in Zimmer Creek today off SE facing cliffs. Likely happened 1/29. There were also other smaller wet loose avalanches nearby on south facing cliffs
Went out to ski the S facing coulior on Mt Delano yesterday in the Absarokas and figured we’d report back.
In the valleys we found significant surface hoar. Once in higher elevation, widespread crust on all aspects.
On N facings- some wind blown snow above a 1-3 inch crust. Crust on SE-SW facing aspects varied from breakable to very firm. Facets under crust in some S facing areas as well.
Wet slide debris found on S facing slopes as per picture.
Overall a very shallow snowpack, including at almost 8k. It became a rock and downed tree avoidance mission.
Skied into South Cottonwood basin from Blackmore today. Skiing was sub-par with lots of wind scouring and intense active snow transport. Along with the slides observed yesterday, two recent R1-D1 slides were observed in South Cottonwood Basin: below the Dogleg and on N Twin's west wall via cornice break. No surface hoar, slides from today, or cracking/collapsing were observed.
<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> on wind loaded slopes are the primary concern today. A foot of new snow and perfect drifting winds means these drifts of new snow could easily be 2-4 ft deep.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The new snow is piling up on a variety of snow surfaces - some weak, some not - so check to see how well the new snow has bonded to the old snow surface before getting onto slopes steeper than 30 degrees (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zbdABx9LzE"><span><span><span><strong>…;). Conditions could be quite touchy on slopes with weak snow underneath the fresh drifts.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The low density snow is unlikely to form much of a slab without wind effect, but remarkably soft slabs can break if they’re sitting on surface hoar (a weak layer which we’ve had reports of - </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33903"><span><span><span><span><span><…;), so don’t entirely let your guard down on non-windloaded slopes. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Human triggered avalanches are likely and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes. On all other slopes, the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slab avalanches </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>are also the primary concern in the Madison and Gallatin Ranges, Lionhead area, and mountains around Island Park. Fresh wind slabs were already breaking yesterday, before it started snowing (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33925"><span><span><span><strong><span…. Blackmore observation</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Expect more of the same today, but they could be both deeper and wider. The deeper the drifts of new snow, the more dangerous conditions will be. A short, intense period of snowfall this afternoon may rapidly form new, unstable drifts.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Weak snow has been reported on the old snow surface across the area (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33900"><span><span><span><span><span><…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33895"><span><span><span><span><span><…;). High winds may have blown away some of that weak snow before the new snow started falling, but probably not all of it. So if you find a wind drift more than around 6” deep, check to see what it’s sitting on top of. Cracks shooting out in front of you are bullseye data that you’ve found an unstable drift.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Human triggered avalanches are possible and the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>A dusting of new snow in the Bridger Range won’t do much to increase the hazard today. Watch out for thin drifts of new snow if you’re riding in terrain where even a small slide would have big consequences (above rocks, cliffs, etc.) and stick with good travel practices (wearing rescue gear, having a partner watching from a safe spot) in case you get unlucky and manage to trigger a bigger slide in an older winddrift.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Conditions are generally safe and the avalanche danger is LOW.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
Join us for the King & Queen of the Ridge TODAY at Bridger Bowl! Registration for the event has closed, but come join us at the top of the Bridger lift to cheer on the participants!
Three small fresh natural wind slab avalanches were seen on the east face of Mt. Blackmore on 1/31/25.
From obs: "Wind was rocking in alpine today, fresh windslabs forming and naturally releasing. I could make out 3 on E face, but rough vis with blowing snow. Exposed terrain in alpine had about .5” ice crust from yesterday’s sunshine.
This slab (in pic) released around 11-noon-ish." Photo taken 1/31/25
Wind was rocking in alpine today, fresh windslabs forming and naturally releasing. I could make out 3 on E face, but rough vis with blowing snow. Exposed terrain in alpine had about .5” ice crust from yesterday’s sunshine.
This slab (in pic) released around 11-noon-ish.
Toured out of Pine Creek yesterday and up to around 9000ft. We found large surface hoar crystals around the creek and smaller NSF in most covered areas. In steeper, north-facing terrain, we found a fairly uniform snowpack in areas that had been seeing some wind and surprisingly good surface conditions for skiing. We found a few feet of sugar snow near the ridge line with large faceted crystals lower in the snowpack, restricted to mostly sheltered areas. While traveling, we saw no signs of instability except some wet slides from the past few warm days. However, the snowpack around Pine Creek is much thinner than the rest of the forecast area and is showing significantly more signs of faceting, especially in sheltered areas.
