23-24
Small Skier Triggered Wind Slab, Cooke City
We triggered this small avalanche on a steep windloaded rollover on an otherwise mellow slope. This avalanche was 15-20' wide, 8" deep, and ran for about 30-40 vertical feet. The skier easily skied away from the slide and was not caught. Photo: GNFAC
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Mar 29, 2024GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Apr 1, 2024
We Triggered a Small Avalanche
Today, we skied near the wilderness boundary north of Round Lake. On a wind-loaded test slope at the top of our second ski run, we were able to get recent drifts to crack, but not avalanche. Slightly further down on a steep roll the second skier in our group triggered a small wind slab avalanche. This avalanche was 15-20' wide, 8" deep, and ran for about 30-40 vertical feet. The skier easily skied away from the slide and was not caught.
Winds remained mostly calm but increased by the end of the day. Snowfall through the day was enough to partially cover our morning tracks and we found 2" of snow on our snowmobiles at the end of the day.
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Thu Mar 28, 2024
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Wind-loading is the main avalanche concern in the Bridger and northern Gallatin Ranges. Fresh wind slab avalanches yesterday are a sign of what will occur again today; no Ouija board is required. Skiers in Frazier Basin saw many slides (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31646"><span><span><span><strong><span…;) and Dave saw wind pluming snow off the ridge and recent avalanche activity in Argentina Bowl and near Saddle Peak (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/xuIkWhy1jvM?feature=share"><span><span><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31633"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Snow will start to fall this morning and wind will continue loading slopes. Seek sheltered terrain and avoid terrain traps. Even shallow avalanches can be dangerous. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all wind-loaded slopes and MODERATE on all others. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Around Big Sky and all ranges south, new snow and wind-loading are the main avalanche concerns. Ian is in Cooke City and made a </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/sHMnKlFFrMI?feature=share"><span><span><span…; standing in an 8’ deep pit, a visual treat given the low snow year (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31641"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). He explains how new snow and wind are creating instability in the upper 1+ foot of the snowpack (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/windslabs-north-cooke-city"><span>… 1</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/small-windslab-zimmer-creek"><span… 2</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>) and how the weaker, faceted snow near the ground is more difficult to trigger, but not impossible. Rocks sticking out in starting zones indicate shallow areas where a person could trigger a large and deadly slide. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today is a day of active loading and the snowpack will be most sensitive to triggering, both naturally and by people. Wind is blowing at all elevations loading slopes. The weight of the new snow is starting to add up over the last 5 days (1” of </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/snowpack/snowpack-observat… water equivalent</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>) and today is a day to travel wisely and conservatively. It is not always possible to identify exactly which slope or part of a slope has been wind-loaded, especially with poor visibility. Dangerous avalanche conditions are back. Be careful getting near avalanche terrain and be especially mindful of terrain traps. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events
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Wind Slab avalanches in Frazier Basin
From IG: Very touchy on Hollywood wall this morning. All slopes easily propagated 4-6” deep on a firm bed surface. Most were less than 50’ wide with the exception of the slide in the couloir which propagated down the entire couloir, maybe 500’ wide, and ran through the exits into the main bowl.
From IG: Very touchy on Hollywood wall this morning. All slopes easily propagated 4-6” deep on a firm bed surface. Most were less than 50’ wide with the exception of the slide in the couloir which propagated down the entire couloir, maybe 500’ wide, and ran through the exits into the main bowl.
From IG: Very touchy on Hollywood wall this morning. All slopes easily propagated 4-6” deep on a firm bed surface. Most were less than 50’ wide with the exception of the slide in the couloir which propagated down the entire couloir, maybe 500’ wide, and ran through the exits into the main bowl.
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Thu Mar 28, 2024