Photos

Eric Knoff digs an easy snowpit in the 12" deep snowpack in Lionhead. This snowpack will inevitably become weak as facets grow. Photo: GNFAC

The snowpack depth ranged from 1-2.5 feet in No Name Bowl (the bowl directly south of Frazier Basin in the Bridger Range). There were a couple layers of facets, but nothing propagated in stability tests. This slope was windloaded. Pit is here: http://www.mtavalanche.com/images/16/no-name-bowl-profile?size=_original

Photo: GNFAC

Looking sweet. I know they're thinking,"Gonna get some turns!" Strong winds on Thanksgiving day stripped the new snow away from the open slopes and loaded gullies. Photo: B. VandenBos
 

This photo was taken on Thanksgiving day in Sacajewea Bowl. The wind sculpture/texture is called sastrugi and is a sign of strong winds stripping away the snow. Photo: B. VandenBos

Natural slides on the east side of the Bridger Range. This picture was taken on Thanksgiving day. Photo: B. VandenBos
 

From an emailed observation:

Dug a pit at 9200 feet E facing, 31 cm of snow ECTN 12 at 15 cm from ground, failed on 15 cm of large grain crystals (facets). Skied 200 feet into Bear Basin and it was awful, crushing rocks left and right so we turned around...Just glad we came back without injuries. Photo: T. Allen

In the northern Madison Range, up Beehive Basin, a thin snowpack (1 foot deep), lots of rocks and cracking in the new, wind-deposited snow made for a nice tour, but not for finding turns. Photo: T. Allen

From an email:  I was skiing a SSE facing slope at about 9200', took a few turns into a couloir (after ski cutting the top) and got taken down by a 1' deep wind slab that had broken 10' above me, approximately 30' wide. It swept me down through a rocky pinch which I was able to guide myself down without any serious injuries. It was a confined wind slab right on the ridge line that did not step down to the ground or cause any large secondary avalanches. Photo: M. Cohen

Sacajewea Bowl in the northern Bridger Range is seeing a lot of skier traffic. Watch out for rocks! Skiers took this photo Wednesday morning (11/23), before the new snow. Photo: P. Bodalski

These slides were observed up Republic Creek outside of Cooke City on Saturday, November 19th. They occurred on W-NW facing slopes at 9,700 ft. Cracking and collapsing along with additional avalanche activity was also observed in the area. Photo B. Fredlund  

A thin and variable snowpack exists in the northern Bridgers. Wind loaded slopes provide the only real skiable runs, but they also pose the most significant avalanche threat. Be cautious while hiking up or skiing down any wind loaded slope and always be thinking about the consequence of a slide.    

Photo: B. Fredlund

Avalanche on wind-loaded, ENE aspect near ridgeline north of Sacajawea trail. Photo: B. VandenBos

Avalanche on wind-loaded, ENE aspect near the ridgeline North of the Sacajawea trail. Photo: B. VandenBos

This avalanche was observed on 10/18 on the north face of Mt. Blackmore in the Northern Gallatin range. From observer: "The crown here was less than a foot deep and over 100' wide." Photo: B. VandenBos

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Grizzly Outfitters of Big Sky is title sponsor of this year's 18th Annual Powder Blast. Mystery Ranch, World Boards, and Spark R&D,  are our other key supporters. Join us for the best fundraiser of the year! All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Avalanche Center which supports avalanche awareness, education and information throughout southwest Montana.

Your $30 donation gets you an unforgettable evening at the Emerson Cultural Center.

Beer Katabatic Brewing Company

Wine from Montana Ale Works

Dinner by Bountiful Table

Music DJ Missy O'Malley

And the best silent auction of outdoor gear in the valley!