Widespread cracking and collapsing
Cracking and collapsing reported across the advisory area in the Bridger Range, Big Sky area, near West Yellowstone and Island Park, and near Cooke City.
Cracking and collapsing reported across the advisory area in the Bridger Range, Big Sky area, near West Yellowstone and Island Park, and near Cooke City.
Upon descending climbers saw two recent natural avalanches in the Dribbles Gully. These avalanches were failing within the new snow.
From obs:
"On descent this new snow was touchy, and we observed 2 natural avalanches, max depth 15 cm, on the small end of size 1, F hardness, running less than 30-50m exclusively in new snow. (SS-N-R1D1-N)"
From obs:
"On descent this new snow was touchy, and we observed 2 natural avalanches, max depth 15 cm, on the small end of size 1, F hardness, running less than 30-50m exclusively in new snow. (SS-N-R1D1-N)"
From obs:
"On descent this new snow was touchy, and we observed 2 natural avalanches, max depth 15 cm, on the small end of size 1, F hardness, running less than 30-50m exclusively in new snow. (SS-N-R1D1-N)"
Well I had to go see what the snow was doing today. We climbed the Fallen (about 100m below Climb Above Dribbles). On ascent there were no signs of instability (no cracking, collapsing, naturals, good results in hand pits, etc). New snow had accumulated to around 1m in spots however! No activity in the old snow, which seemingly gained some strength in the warm weather midweek (hardness in FCs went from fist to 4F from mon-fri).
During the day, snowfall rates hit S2 at times, and accumulation was around 5 cm, with moderate winds and moderate drifting. On descent this new snow was touchy, and we observed 2 natural avalanches, max depth 15 cm, on the small end of size 1, F hardness, running less than 30-50m exclusively in new snow. (SS-N-R1D1-N)
Structure remains poor overall.
8" of snow fell in 3 hours this morning. We inspected the snowpack in the gully above Silken Falls for the Bozeman Ice Festival. New snow and wind are increasing the avalanche danger. Be careful crossing gullies, especially the one above the Sceptor, the one below Responsible Family Man, Avalanche Gulch and Silken Falls. Triggering an avalanche in these is a very real possibility as they continue to get wind-loaded.