Photos

A snowmobiler triggered this slide to the east of Huckleberry Lake. It likely failed on facets that formed a couple weeks ago. The rider was buried to his knees and uninjured. Photo: GNFAC

A cornice broke (X) and triggered an avalanche on Miller Ridge. Photo: GNFAC

Skiers near Meridian Peak observed cracking in the snowpack. It appeared to be the wind-drifted snow sitting on top of a layer of feathery surface hoar buried about a foot under the snow. Photo: T Parrie

These 2 avalanches were triggered by snowmobilers on the south face of Sheep Mtn on 1/23. Photo: GNFAC

A snowmobiler was side-hilling a slope in Sunlight Basin and triggered an avalanche. The rider was not caught or injured. Photo: R. Deleers

This surface hoar crystal was pulled from the pit wall on Henderson Bench outside Cooke City. These feathers of snow are buried under a foot deep on some slopes. They are a weak layer that we are tracking throughout southwest MT. Photo: GNFAC

From Obs: "I skied into Maid of the Mist today, it looks like part of a cornice fell and it failed on a wind slab from last weekend’s snow. It did not step down to the depth hoar. Photo: S Reinsel

A natural avalanche on Ernie Miller Ridge failed on deeply buried facets earlier in the week on an east aspect. Skiers continue to report loud whumphs in the area. Photo: R. Wofford

From email, "A slab avalanche observed on Mt. Republic, northerly aspect, 8,600'." Photo: B Fredlund

2 slides on the south side of Sheep Mtn. Crown looked to be 1-3 feet high. Both where triggered by snowmobiles.  Photo: R. DeSilva

2 slides on the south side of Sheep Mtn. Crown looked to be 1-3 feet high. Both where triggered by snowmobiles.  Photo: R. DeSilva

Photo: Sam H.

From obs on 1/23/21: "I observed a couple older (1-2 week) naturals on E/ESE aspects in the Divide basin, and newer (1-3 days) naturals [shown in photo] on the NE side of Divide and an east aspect at the head of the Maid of the Mist basin." Photo: S. Reinsel

From obs on 1/23/21: "I observed a couple older (1-2 week) naturals on E/ESE aspects in the Divide basin, and newer (1-3 days) naturals [shown in photo] on the NE side of Divide and an east aspect at the head of the Maid of the Mist basin." Photo: S. Reinsel

We saw this natural avalanche on 1/23/21. It likely occurred in the past week. SE aspect at 9,200', Photo: GNFAC

These 4 avalanches were likely naturally triggered about a 5-7 days ago, before the last snowfall. Photo: GNFAC

The 2 weak layers are a thin layer of buried surface hoar and a thick layer of sugary depth hoar. The snowpack is weak and will become quickly unstable with more snow. Photo: GNFAC

The gale-force winds last Wednesday stripped many slopes in the Buck Ridge area. The snowpack in this region remains thin. Photo: GNFAC

This avalanche likely occurred with wind-loading last weekend (5-7 days ago). Photo: GNFAC