Photos

At 1:30pm on 11/23 I intentionally triggered a fresh drift of snow in a narrow avalanche path along the edge of the north bowl at Bridger. Northeast aspect at 7,600’ elevation. The crown was 6-8” deep consisting of snow that fell today, 20’ wide and ran 250’ vertical. SS-ASc-R2-D1.5-I. Photo: GNFAC

At 1:30pm on 11/23 I intentionally triggered a fresh drift of snow in a narrow avalanche path along the edge of the north bowl at Bridger. Northeast aspect at 7,600’ elevation. The crown was 6-8” deep consisting of snow that fell today, 20’ wide and ran 250’ vertical. SS-ASc-R2-D1.5-I. Photo: GNFAC

Big Sky ski patrol triggered these slides with explosives on 11/22 during routine avalanche mitigation work. The avalanches were hard slabs that averaged 12" deep and broke on a weak layer above a crust on top of snow that fell in October. Photo: BSSP

Big Sky ski patrol triggered these slides with explosives on 11/22 during routine avalanche mitigation work. The avalanches were hard slabs that averaged 12" deep and broke on a weak layer above a crust on top of snow that fell in October. Photo: BSSP

From IG message: "We saw a few decent sized point releases in the same zone on Sunday, 11/20, the day after the wind slab. All occurred on SW aspect within approx 15 min at 2:30. The air temp rose noteably shortly before and the sun was baking the SW aspect. Wind slab from 11/19 is on the far right, two point releases on the left". Photo: M. Zenker

During our trek up to Narcolepsy and the Champagne climbs, we observed a large amount of surface hoar atop the snow. There were large (1/4-1/2”) flat crystals growing from the snow sitting on a small icy faceted layer. It seemed to be widespread and was found throughout most of the canyon. We figured this may cause instability during the next snow accumulation

Toured into divide basin on Friday. Looking at the north face of hyalite peak we saw a slide that went to the ground, and was about 150 feet wide. It possible this slide propagated further, but severe wind loading was actively occurring and it was hard to tell if the crown had been filled back in. We dug a pit at 9300 feet on a SÉ aspect and found a 80-100 cm HS and right side up snow pack with minor faceting below a crust 30 cm from the bottom. 

This natural avalanche of wind blown snow narrowly missed hitting two skiers.

Photo: Anonymous

Photo: @M. Stem

submitted to us via IG: "triggered this large wind slab below Bridger Lift this morning [11/18]. It propagated quite a ways."

From obs: "triggered a small wind slab in sluice box today. this was not a surprise as all of the wind loaded areas had shown cracking and instability on the way up. though these other areas exhibited the same instability, this little pocket in sluice was the only spot steep enough to run. wanted to stop and measure slope angle but the dog was getting cold"

Photo: J. Armer

Rimed weather station on Sawtelle Peak. 11/17/22. Photo: GNFAC

From email: "Saw a recent slab avalanche today on a NE aspect of Mt. Henderson, around 10,000.  We were skiing nearby on Nov. 11-12 and did not notice this slide, but that may have simply missed it (that slope becomes shaded by about noon this time of year and there was lots of wind affected snow in that area.)" Photo: B. Fredlund

The Bridger Mountains look good with a fresh layer of snow. Photo: GNFAC

From obs: "We observed lots of well developed surface hoar on Chestnut Mountain on top of approximately 12” - 15” of snow."

An observer reported "A number of Avalanche Crowns on an east aspect at 9500 ft." in Tepee Basin.

Observer reported "A number of Avalanche Crowns on an east aspect at 9500 ft." in Tepee Basin.

An observer reported "A number of Avalanche Crowns on an east aspect at 9500 ft." in Tepee Basin

Surface hoar forming near grotto falls parking lot, on a tree but still indicative of area surface hoar. Photo: E. Jeannette

From obs: "Skied Hyalite Peak today and found a wind slab ~10cm deep. Ski cut a small cornice below the main face and broke a small slide that carried ~20’ with little energy with a ~25’ wide crown" Photo: C. Crowe