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Overview photo E facing storm slab N Bridgers 1 Jan 2024

 E-facing storm slab N Bridgers 1 Jan 2024

Skied Maid of the Mist today. The only avalanches seen were small (<10ft in length) loose snow releases directly below small trees on north facing 35+ degree aspects at 9200 feet. Poor visibility generally limited views to a few hundred yards. A small amount of stiffening from wind was noticed on the snow surface on the way out of the basin, but there was little to no wind effect in the trees on the south side of the Maid. Ski conditions were fantastic.

Settling and collapsing on E-NE slopes above Hebgen. Full slope collapses and cracks, approximately 28 degree slope pictured.

Photo: C Koch

From Instagram message: "Settling and collapsing on E-NE slopes above Hebgen. Full slope collapses and cracks, approximately 28 degree slope pictured." 

While touring up a low-angle ridge in the northern Lionhead, I experienced several large collapses, notably one that triggered a cornice fall from 50’ away. Another remote collapse caused about 500’ of an E facing bowl to propagate, but not slide. ~9200’ E-SE 

Photo: N Sramek

While touring up a low-angle ridge in the northern Lionhead, I experienced several large collapses, notably one that triggered a cornice fall from 50’ away. Another remote collapse caused about 500’ of an E facing bowl to propagate, but not slide. ~9200’ E-SE

Photo: N Sramek

Skinned across Hebgen Lake from the Kirkwood trailhead and ascended to the ridgeline above Trapper Creek. Snowpack was consistently 2-2.5ft deep throughout our tour. Got two small collapses on the ascent when we deviated from the established skin track. Dug on a SE facing slope at 9000 ft (just off the ridgeline) and got no results in an Extended Column Test (ECTX). The column smooshed under the shovel as I tapped, seemingly indicating that there wasn't enough of a cohesive slab above the weak layers. Got a larger collapse as we descended to a second snowpit site. Stopped and dug in the place where we got the whumpf. This pit was at 8500 ft on a south aspect. There was a thin melt-freeze crust over the basal facets here. This appears to be what gave the slab enough stiffness to propagate a fracture. ECTP12. Stepping out of skis you stepped all the way to the ground at both pit sites. 

With the recent load of new snow on weak snow near the ground, we developed a plan at the car to avoid all slopes steeper than 30 degrees and stuck to that plan.