23-24

Rode Sawtell past two days. Very wide spread stout slab formed under the new snow that’s fallen. Heavy winds have scoured new snow away in places and deposited pillows in other aspects. Dug a pit with ECTX results but did not two layers of concern. One thin buried facet layer about 60cm down and the thick melt freeze about 80cm down. HS was 160 on a SE aspect about 8300. 

A skier at Bridger Bowl noticed a small wind slab avalanche on quarter saddle. The slide ran 250 vertical feet and broke 100+ feet wide. Photo: D. Zinn

I was skiing inbound at Bridger Bowl today and noticed a small wind slab avalanche that failed on quarter saddle. I estimate comparing the photo to Google Earth that the slide ran 250 vertical feet and broke 100+ feet wide. Ongoing wind-loading and obvious instability. 

From IG: This avalanche was from this morning (02/28). It was windy and the gully was likely wind-loaded. One video shows the debris and crown. The pin on the map (below) shows the location of the debris.

From IG: This avalanche was from this morning (02/28). It was windy and the gully was likely wind-loaded. One video shows the debris and crown. The pin on the map (below) shows the location of the debris.

We exited Bridger Bowl ski area via the gate at the top of the Alpine Lift, ascended Bradley's Meadow and The Ramp and dug in one of the Refrigerator Chutes on a NE aspect at ~8000 ft. We found a snowpack that made us pretty hopeful about the direction things are headed in the Bridger Range. Snow depth was 160 cm and we got ECTX results. At least in this location, the weak layers are starting to heal. The early January weak layer was 1Finger hardness. We are not at all confident yet about how widespread this is, but nonetheless, it is nice to see things getting better somewhere.

Winds were calm below the ridgeline, but we could see big plumes transporting in Wolverine Bowl. Yesterday's skin track was completed drifted in in some places.

Around a foot of new snow from the last couple days made for good riding conditions.