A group of riders triggered this large avalanche on Lionhead Ridge as they traveled in nearby terrain that was much less steep. Photo: T. Urell
A Bridger Canyon commuter reported 3-4 fresh slides on Baldy and Saddle Peak
From BBSP 2/11/24: "there’s at least 3 slides from over night on the north side of the skyline, 1on the south edge of the football field and one higher on the upper rock band that ran over the cliffs into going home chute".
From IG: “Here is a big avalanche remotely triggered yesterday up lionshead area”
Driving up the canyon this morning, 3-4 fresh slides can be spotted on Baldy and Saddle Peak
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Near West Yellowstone and Island Park dangerous avalanche conditions exist and a person can trigger large to very large avalanches. Slides can be triggered from flatter terrain below or connected to steep slopes, and can break hundreds of feet wide and 2-4 feet deep. We have removed an avalanche warning that was in place for the past seven days. Natural avalanches may be less likely with a break from snowfall, but over the last week 2-4 feet of snow fell on a very weak snowpack which makes large human triggered avalanches likely.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today is not a day to travel in or near avalanche terrain. The evidence is clear that you could easily trigger a big avalanche. Over the past week we received extensive reports of natural avalanches, avalanches triggered from flat terrain, and large collapses of the snowpack. A couple rider triggered huge slides in Tepee Basin (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFnjygLGli8"><span><span><span><strong>… overview video of slide on 2/7</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=Nyk_y6bKPW4"><span><span><span><strong>… of other remote triggered slide</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>), and a natural on Ernie Miller Ridge near Bacon Rind (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/natural-avalanche-ernie-miller"><…;) are a few from a long list of recent activity that show what remains likely today.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Plan to stay off of and out from under all slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Near Bozeman, Big Sky, and Cooke City winds increased last night and drifted recent snow into thicker slabs over a weak and unstable snowpack. Over the last few days 6-8” of low density snow fell, and these mountains have received 1-2 feet over the last week. Human-triggered and natural avalanches have been breaking 1-3 feet deep and up to 100-200 feet wide. As the wind picked up yesterday afternoon a skier saw an avalanche run over the cliffs of Saddle Peak in the Bridger Range(</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30607"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). Yesterday near Cooke City, a rider triggered an avalanche on Crown Butte and was luckily not caught (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30628"><span><span><span><strong><span… and details</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>), and skiers south of town saw a recent natural avalanche (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30625"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). On Buck Ridge near Big Sky riders triggered a similarly large avalanche from flat terrain nearby (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30621"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Browse the</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span> </span></span></strong></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/weather/wx-avalanche-log"><span><span><span… and Weather log</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> to see many more similar slides that were noted over the last week.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Choose routes that avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees and flat terrain below, especially recently wind-loaded slopes. Large, human-triggered avalanches are likely and avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
We closed out King and Queen (of the Apron) with $23,208 raised! The community came out big after a postponed event, participants were crushing bootpack laps and even getting some powder turns in while fundraising for Friends of GNFAC.
As we were coming out, I spotted this cracking above the creek. A sled has passed nearby on the right side ( you can see the track). The snow cracked and was starting to rub in the left (barely).
It was above the creek and could have created a trap for someone below.
This is just below the cabin Creek cabin where all the stands coverage.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KyH21E7a9vts2UAF6
From FB 2/10/24: "Another view of White peak south along ridge in UPR TeePee basin slide from wailer this week. Looked like was from a rider earlier this week. This view was from the slopes south of Lee Metcalf Wilderness boundary looking toward SW."
