On 1/29/23 we saw a lot of recent natural avalanches which likely ran late on 1/27/23 or the morning of 1/28/23. Photo: GNFAC
22-23
On 1/29/23 we saw a lot of recent natural avalanches which likely ran late on 1/27/23 or the morning of 1/28/23. Photo: GNFAC
Avalanches seen from bridger canyon road
On the drive up to bridger bowl, I saw debris from several avalanches at the top of the ridge south of saddle peak. Aspects E-SE. I didn't get a super good view, but I'm estimating they were size R1-2 / D1-2 and couldn't tell for sure if they were loose or slab avalanches.
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Jan 30, 2023
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Wind out of the northwest-west increased overnight and is drifting snow into thicker slabs that make human-triggered avalanches likely today. Fresh wind slabs will be easy to trigger, and could cause avalanches to break deeper and wider on weak layers buried below the 1-4 feet of new snow that fell a couple days ago. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Since snowfall ended on Saturday morning the snowpack had a break to adjust to the weight of the storm (1-4” of snow water equivalent), and on non-wind loaded slopes the likelihood of avalanches has decreased. However, buried weak layers make it possible to trigger large avalanches for many days, on steep slopes or from lower angle terrain below steep slopes. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Yesterday, Dave rode near Cooke City and found layers of feathery, weak surface hoar buried 1-3 feet deep, and he saw recent avalanches that broke under the 1-2 feet of new snow (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc40w4p6ujM&list=PLXu5151nmAvTi1DBS…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27873"><span><span><span><strong><span>…;). On Saturday Doug and I looked at an avalanche in Taylor Fork that broke 1-2.5’ deep on similar weak layers (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5_B8ekDO-8"><span><span><span><strong>…;, </span></span></strong></span></span></span><a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27855"><span><span><span><strong><span>… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Last week we saw clear evidence of these buried weak layers layers near West Yellowstone (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27817"><span><span><span><strong><span… avalanche at Lionhead</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>) and Big Sky (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55VuPiasHgw"><span><span><span><strong>… snowpack tests on Buck Ridge video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). And, in the Bridger Range and Hyalite we documented weak snow on many slopes prior to the recent heavy snowfall (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV4GadWjnaA"><span><span><span><strong>… video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1HCGdyzt0E"><span><span><span><strong>… Ellis video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Over the last three days, people reported many large natural and human-triggered avalanches. You can browse the details on our </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><span><span><span><stro… activity page</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>. These show what is possible today, and are a reminder to remain extra cautious of slopes steeper than 30 degrees and lower angle terrain below steep slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today, avoid steep slopes that have fresh drifts. Watch for large plumes of snow blowing off ridgelines or cracking across the snow surface around your skis as indicators of where fresh drifts exist. On non-wind loaded slopes, carefully assess the stability of the recent new snow, and dig to look for buried weak layers. Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and MODERATE on all other slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Please share avalanche, snowpack or weather observations via our</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_obs"><span><span><span><span>…; </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span><span>website</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, email (</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>mtavalanche@gmail.com</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p>Wind increased overnight and is drifting snow into thicker slabs that make human-triggered avalanches likely today. Fresh wind slabs will be easy to trigger, and could cause avalanches to break deeper and wider on weak layers buried below the 1-4 feet of snow that fell a couple days ago. On non-wind loaded slopes the likelihood has decreased, but it remains possible to trigger a large avalanche. Today, avoid slopes that have fresh drifts. On non-wind loaded slopes, carefully assess the stability of the recent new snow, and dig to look for buried weak layers.</p>
KING AND QUEEN OF THE RIDGE, FEBRUARY 4TH
Do you like to hike? Do you like to ski? Then the King & Queen of the Ridge is for you. Hike, ski and raise money for the Friends of the Avalanche Center in their 2nd biggest fundraiser of the year. Join the effort to promote and support avalanche safety and awareness! Fundraising prizes for the top 5 individuals who raise over $500.
Several avalanches in the Goose Lake area
Several avalanches in the Goose Lake area. Assuming they happened on Friday or Saturday. Photo: J. Mundt (Beartooth Powder Guides)
Several avalanches in the Goose Lake area. Assuming they happened on Friday or Saturday. Photo: J. Mundt
Several avalanches in the Goose Lake area. Assuming they happened on Friday or Saturday. Photo: J. Mundt
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Jan 30, 2023
Several avalanches in the Goose Lake area. Assuming they happened on Friday or Saturday. Photo: J. Mundt
Cooke City, recent avalanche photos
From obs. 1/29/23: Some photos of recent natural avalanche activity near Cooke City attached. We observed about 10 slab avalanches today that ran during this cycle.
Recent natural avalanches near Cooke City, observed 1/29/23. Photo: B. Fredlund