23-24

Natural avalanche in McAtee Basin. Likely happened in the last 24-48 hours. Photo: GNFAC

From obs: "We saw multiple natural avalanches in Beaver Creek, First Yellowmule, Second Yellowmule, Third Yellowmule, and McAtee Basin. The recent avalanches were large enough to bury or injure backcountry travelers (D2) and likely happened within the last 24-48 hours." Photo: GNFAC

Photo of a recent avalanche on Cedar Mountain reported on 01/20. Photo: Anonymous 

Photo of a recent avalanche on Cedar Mountain reported on 01/20. Photo: Anonymous 

This natural avalanche was seen by skiers on 01/22 and 01/19. It likely happened a few days prior near 01/18. Photo: D. Carroll

From email on 01/22: 

"On 1/20, we toured north of town into sheep creek to ski the north-facing burn glade. We saw no new avalanche activity, but continued to experience numerous collapses as soon as we stepped off the skin track. The sun came out periodically in the morning, and that's all it took for the new snow to become much more wet and heavy. The denser snow was able to support the weight of a skier a little better and we subsequently experienced fewer collapses. Winds picked up from the west into the afternoon and began to transport a lot of snow around."

From email on 01/22: "

"On 1/19, my partners and I toured into Pebble Creek just west of Cooke in hopes to find some low-angle powder skiing. Our objective was to ski a south-facing slope just north of the Pebble Creek trail. 

New snow totals were around a foot at 8000ft. Winds were pretty moderate out of the west/northwest, but it looks as if the days prior had transported a lot of snow off of the south-facing ridgelines onto east-facing slopes. We had many thunderous collapses on our way uphill that echoed across the entire canyon. It was pretty hair-raising even though we weren't above or below any avalanche terrain. Towards the top of our objective, we saw a natural avalanche that occurred on a small rollover that appeared to be a day or two old (pictured below). I suspect the slope was no steeper than 30 degrees. I did a quick hand shear on the adjacent slope and the overlying slab of new snow failed upon isolation. "