Photos

Strong wind created sensitive cornices and small wind slabs in the northern Madison Range. Photo: C. Corey

Avalanche triggered by skier on Sunday (2/5). Crown estimated 4' deep. From e-mail: "it sounded like they rode 3 laps previously in this same zone this am. Apparently the rider was able to bear hug a tree as the slope fractured, and got pummeled, but managed not to take a ride with the debris." Photo: B. Fredlund

Avalanche triggered during storm on Sunday (2/5) on Henderson Mtn. near Cooke City. A lot of snow and steady strong winds created very dangerous avalanche conditions. Photo: M. Dixon

A group of skiers remotely triggered this slide on Sunday (2/5) near Cooke City. One was partially buried and there were no injuries. 

Sensitive winds slabs cracking and propagating in isolated areas from cornice fall. Moderate to strong winds noted throughout the day. 

This week's new snow buried a layer of facets sitting on an ice crust on a south facing slope off Henderson Ridge. This layering does not seem to be widespread, but the low test scores with a growing wind slab are enough to cause concern. Photo: GNFAC
 

This wind slab failed naturally on the SE face of Crown Butte. With more snow and wind in the forecast wind slabs will be the main avalanche concern. Photo GNFAC

This shows the SH buried 10 cm down and then the SH on the surface that just got buried with todays snow (Tuesday, 1/31). I think the layer on the surface hoar might be more persistent than the buried layer, but time will tell. Photo: K. Birkeland

A snowmobiler triggered this wind slab on the south face of Sage Peak in the southern Madison Range on Sunday. Photo: H. Victory
 

A shallow wind slab was skier triggered on Sunday (1/29) on Ernest Miller Ridge in the southern Madison Range. Photo: M. Carey

Surface hoar at Bacon Rind. This layer formed during clear, cold, calm nights and exists on some slopes in the southern ranges. It could be a problem if buried by the next storm. Photo: K. Birkeland

This wind slab was triggered by a ski patroller in a closed area at Big Sky. Photo. BSSP

This wind slab was triggered by a snowmobiler around the Top of the World area near Cooke City. Photo: S. Fink

Natural avalanche observed in Northern Bridgers on Friday, January 27th. Heavy wind loading over low density, weak snow created senstive slabs. Photo: G. Antonioli

A skier on Saddle Peak triggered this soft slab avalanche. The slide broke 6-18" deep, 30' wide and ran 1,000 vertical feet. A slide of this nature could easily carry and potentially burry a skier or rider. Photo M. Cohen 

Our instructors set up in the field EVERY SATURDAY for rescue skills practice. Stop by our beacon park practice site for 15-20 minutes, between 10am-2pm. Look for the yellow banner up Lulu Pass road.

We also host a current conditions talk EVERY FRIDAY evening. This week (Jan 27) at The Antlers Lodge (6:00pm), at the Super 8 every Friday in February, and Soda Butte Lodge in March. Photo: GNFAC

Doug Chabot digging a snowpit and doing stability tests in Lightning Creek in the southern Madison Range. I found unstable test results and did not ski 35+ degree slope below. Photo: B. Nobel

A picture of surface hoar in the Bridgers on Monday. Possibly the next weak layer we will be writing about ad nauseum.  Photo: A. Lazar
 

This picture shows feathery surface hoar crystals buried under an inch of snow. We may see avalanches on this layer when we get more snow. Photo: YC Ski Patrol

Surface hoar crystals, a persistent weak layer, are buried on many slopes. They are only under 1-2 inches of snow, but that's enough to preserve them. We will be watchig this layer closely in the coming weeks. Photo: J. Logan