GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Tue Jan 13, 2015
Bridger Range
This avalanche was from the weekend. There is now 8 inches more loading slopes in the starting zones. Photo GNFAC
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Jan 16, 2015
A team effort from the USFS Hebgen Ranger District and Friends of the Avalanche Center got the Beacon Park installed in West Yellowstone! Photo: T. Campbell
I found a weak layer of surface hoar buried two feet deep in four of my six pits, but they propagated in only two. This one took 32 hits to get it to go, a sign of strength, while another on Henderson Bench scored ECTP21. We saw a few avalanches from Wed-Thur, but these were small and on very steep terrain. Photo: GNFAC
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Jan 12, 2015
Bridger Range
The Bridger Range was favored heavily during this last storm. Over the twelve hour period from 3am to 3pm yesterday, both Brackett Creek Snotel site and Bridger Bowl picked up eight inches of dense snow totaling one inch of SWE. While the Bridgers have a fairly strong snowpack, one inch of SWE in a twelve hour period is a red flag. This rapid and heavy load will stress any weakness existing in the snowpack.
This small avalanche near Daisy Pass (Crown Butte in background) was triggered by either a snowmobiler or snowbike on Thursday, January 8. Photo: GNFAC
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Sun Jan 11, 2015
Bridger Range Gallatin Range Madison Range Lionhead area
near West Yellowstone Cooke City
There’s just something not right about driving in January with your windshield wipers on. But that’s exactly what happened at 4 a.m. this morning when I drove into town. Another round of wet snow and freezing rain is gracing the valley while dense snow accumulates in the mountains.
This recent avalanche up Republic Creek outside of Cooke City was the result of wind loading. Isolated pockets of unstable snow still exist on wind loaded slopes. Photo A. Whitmore
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Sat Jan 10, 2015
Bridger Range Gallatin Range Madison Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
Heavy snowfall Sunday and Monday spiked the avalanche danger, but things have mellowed out a lot since then. Why? The snowpack has persistent weak layers but they are not widespread. It’s a tricky situation because many slopes may be stable while a few may not be.
This avalanche probably occurred on Wed, Jan 7 just after an Avalanche Warning for the Cooke City area. It occurred above Sheep Creek northwest of Cooke City. Because of the gully below the slide, the avalanche debris was 15 feet deep in places. Photo: A. Whitmore
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Sat Jan 10, 2015