Saw this avalanche in East Hayden from the Roost today. Likely happened yesterday, 3/6. There are a couple smaller crowns lookers right of the bigger avalanche. Looks to be D2
We noted four storm slab avalanches along Lionhead Ridge and two larger slides that broke deeper on wind loaded slopes. Photo: GNFAC
We noted four storm slab avalanches along Lionhead Ridge and two larger slides that broke deeper on wind loaded slopes. Photo: GNFAC
We noted four storm slab avalanches along Lionhead Ridge and two larger slides that broke deeper on wind loaded slopes. Photo: GNFAC
We noted four storm slab avalanches along Lionhead Ridge and two larger slides that broke deeper on wind loaded slopes. Photo: GNFAC
We noted four storm slab avalanches along Lionhead Ridge and two larger slides that broke deeper on wind loaded slopes. Photo: GNFAC
We rode Denny Creek to the head of Targhee Creek. The primary objective was to search for avalanche activity from the last storm and avalanche warning. There were two deep avalanches on heavily wind-loaded slopes. Otherwise, avalanches were confined to the new and recently wind-drifted snow - there were four of these smaller avalanches. The snowpack at Lionhead handled the recent loading events better and there were fewer avalanches I expected.
We did not experience any signs of instability (cracking, collapsing), but the winter’s snowpack history and concerns about triggering large avalanches kept us off of steep slopes.
Pictures of an avalanche on Henderson Mountain just south of Lulu Pass taken on 3.3.24 (avalanche ocurred on 3.2.24).
Just wanted to pass along some high-resolution images in case they are helpful for future education.
Thanks for all you do!
-Alyssa Barrett
Toured up on the ramp yesterday. In wolverine bowl, another skier and I both popped small wind pockets (6” deep at the most) about half way done the slope on a north facing roll. We also saw lots of snow transport up high on the ridges all day, as well as some slight warming on direct south faces.
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Yesterday we issued an avalanche warning in Lionhead, Cooke City and Island Park where 4-5 feet of snow fell in the last week (3.6-4.8” </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/snowpack/snowpack-observat…;). Avalanches came crashing down and a webcam recorded a large natural avalanche on the outskirts of Cooke City (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKlSUpgh87M"><span><span><span><strong>…;). Observers also saw a large natural on Mount Abundance north of Cooke City (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/large-natural-avalanche-mt-abunda…;) and another party saw a large natural and many smaller slides at Lionhead (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31273"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). Natural slides are not expected today, but triggering a large avalanche is still likely. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Looking at the </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/arden-peak-slide"><span><span><sp…; of a very large slide in Hyalite still causes my palms to sweat 4 days later. And let’s not forget that Dave found wild instability at Bacon Rind on Monday. Low-angled and small slopes broke 3-4 feet deep (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31226"><span><span><span><strong><span…; </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>and </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/ZFbDhwpmdzA"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>…;). </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><em><span>typical</span></em></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> years the snowpack can stabilize within a day or two of loading. Not this year, it’s taking longer. At the moment we are conservative in our actions in the field and in the forecast. We are not touching avalanche terrain today; our uncertainty is high.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The Bridger Range received 3 feet of snow in the last week (2.8” </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/snowpack/snowpack-observat…;) which was blown around and responsible for an avalanche warning on Sunday. Since then, slopes have become less hair trigger and no significant avalanche activity has been reported. People are heading into avalanche terrain without consequence…so far. The snowpack is unstable on some slopes and people can still trigger slides. Signs of instability are mostly absent and stability tests have been showing “false-stable” conditions, so assessing slopes just got a lot trickier. If you decide to enter avalanche terrain, go gradually and start with less steep and smaller slopes. Only expose 1 person at a time in avalanche terrain so everyone else is poised to rescue if your assessment was wrong. Be smart, be careful and be ready.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is rated MODERATE. Triggering large avalanches is still possible.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><u><span><span>An Editorial</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>: I am most worried about Saddle Peak. I ask myself, “Could it slide?” and my answer is, “Yes”. Its snowpack is no different than the other peaks in the range, but it gets a magnitude of more traffic. More traffic means more potential triggers and more people being exposed. Tracks on a slope are not indicative of stability. An avalanche on Saddle Peak in 2010 took out hundreds of tracks. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out: Events and Education Calendar.
