Northern Gallatin
Bridger patrol triggered large slides on heavily wind loaded slopes
Bridger Bowl
Bridger Range
Code
HS-ACc-R2-D3-O
Elevation
8500
Aspect
E
Latitude
45.81560
Longitude
-110.92300
Notes
Ski patrol triggered two large hard slab avalanches, one in Slushman's Ravine and the other in Mundy's Bowl, by knocking large cornices down on the slope. One was 4' deep, AC-HS-R2-D3-O, ran 1150' vertical. The other was 2.5' deep, AC-HS-R2-D2-O, ran 650' vertical. This was their first control in this area for the season, so the snowpack is similar to backcountry.
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Hard slab avalanche
Trigger
Cornice fall triggered by human or explosive action
Trigger Modifier
c-A controlled or intentional release by the indicated trigger
R size
2
D size
3
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
36.0 inches
Vertical Fall
1000ft
Images
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
The Bridger Bowl Ski Patrol triggered this slide on a heavily wind-loaded east facing slope at the ridgeline. They wrote, "With a shovel push the vertical cornice/pillow broke 15''-36'' deep on a steep and rounded bulge just south of Lee's Leap running on the crust. The debris terminated well below Pat's Chute." Its code is HS-AC-R2-D2-O-TR. Photo: BBSP
This large avalanche was triggered intentionally by the Bridger Bowl Ski Patrol at the ridgeline above little Slushman's Ravine. They were cutting a cornice and it broke 7 feet back from the edge, 4 feet deep and 150 feet wide. It was a hard slab avalanche and ran 1150 feet. It was east facing and broke on a crust formed in the early season. It's code is HS-AC-R2-D3-O-TL. Photo: BBSP
We put up the Taylor Fork weather station today (12/03) and it is churning out hourly data. Check it out here: https://www.mtavalanche.com/weather/stations/taylor-fork
We partnered with the Gallatin Valley Snowmobile Association to put in two new beacon checkers at the Taylor Fork and Buck Ridge trailheads. They are working great!
Thanks GVSA! Photo: GNFAC
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Thu Dec 5, 2019
We recognize that backcountry skiing can be daunting to approach. That’s why Ben Goertzen and the Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center have teamed up to help breakdown some of the most prominent barriers of entry to backcountry skiing through this campaign.
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Thu Dec 5, 2019