21-22

Skier caught and injured on Wilson Peak

Wilson Peak
Northern Madison
Code
SS-ASu-R2-D1.5-I
Elevation
9600
Aspect
NE
Latitude
45.33250
Longitude
-111.33000
Notes

A party of two skiers triggered an avalanche while ascending a subridge of Wilson Peak. One skier was caught and injured in the avalanche. The avalanche broke approximately 6-12" deep, 100 ft wide, and ran 300 vertical feet. Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue evacuated the party via helicopter.

Read Full Report Here: https://www.mtavalanche.com/accident/22/04/04

Number of slides
1
Number caught
1
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
2
D size
1.5
Bed Surface
I - Interface between new and old snow
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
10.0 inches
Vertical Fall
300ft
Slab Width
100.00ft
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year
21-22

Sluffs and wind slabs in N. Absarokas

Out of Advisory Area
Code
L-ASc-R1-D1-I
Notes

We were skiing in the northern absarokas yesterday, and triggered a number of slow moving sluffs in the new snow that slid easily on the thick crust formed from the warmup last weekend. The sluffs were triggered in isolated steeper terrain (>38deg) but were able to pick up enough momentum to travel a ways downslope. We figured that a few more inches of load in the form of the new snow last night or windslabs forming on the ridgelines would make them more difficult to manage. We saw some shooting cracks at ridgelines due to wind slab development, but the attached image shows sluffs that traveled a fair bit down the slope, but didn’t propagate wider than the area affected by our skis. 

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Loose-snow avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
c-A controlled or intentional release by the indicated trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Bed Surface
I - Interface between new and old snow
Problem Type
New Snow
Images
Sluffs and wind slabs in N. Absarokas
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year
21-22

GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Apr 3, 2022

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

<p>In the Bridger Range, 4” of new snow will easily slide with above freezing temperatures and clear skies this afternoon. On steep slopes that have a firm crust under the new snow and receive direct sunshine later today, avalanches of the new snow could run far and become large enough to bury or injure a person. Monitor how wet or moist the snow surface is as temperatures warm, and get off steep slopes before the new snow becomes wet. Additionally, watch for signs of unstable fresh drifts, such as cracking across the snow around your feet or skis, rounded pillow-like snow features, or wind blowing snow off ridgelines. Fresh drifts will also be more reactive if they sit on a firm crust.</p>

<p>This morning large avalanches are unlikely and danger is LOW. Later today large wet loose avalanches will become possible and danger will rise to MODERATE.</p>

<p>Through the rest of the forecast area&nbsp;a person can trigger a small slab of recently wind-drifted snow&nbsp;or a small loose snow avalanche. Similar avalanches were triggered by skiers in Beehive Basin yesterday (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26412"><strong><u>details</u></strong>…;), and on Black Mtn. on Friday (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26409"><strong><u>details</u></strong>…;). Avalanches will involve 1-3” of new snow and probably be too small to bury a person, but even the smallest avalanche can knock you off your feet. Be cautious of steep slopes that have high consequences of being caught in a small slide, like above cliffs, rocks or trees.</p>

<p>It is unlikely to trigger a larger avalanche on deeper weak layers, but not impossible. Dave found buried weak snow in Hyalite a couple days ago (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w18Fxp-dmI"><strong><u>Flanders video</u></strong></a>), and yesterday skiers north of Bridger Bowl found similar unstable snowpack test scores (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/unstable-snowpack-test-north-brid…;). Before riding steep slopes, dig to double check that a poor or unstable snowpack structure does not exist. Stack the odds in your favor by only exposing one person at a time to avalanche terrain and always carrying proper rescue gear. Today, large avalanches are unlikely and the avalanche danger is LOW.</p>

<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our website, email (mtavalanche@gmail.com), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>

From obs 4/2/22: "With the MSU Avy 2 class today. We dug 3 separate pits on the NE aspect off the top of Texas Meadows. Two pits had ECTX and one in between had an ECTP23 @ 55cm down failing on a persistent facet layer. Bottom half of the entire snowpack was still facets to the ground. Boot sunk to the ground once we reached that layer in the pit." Photo: C. Ellingson


Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Apr 3, 2022
Bridger Range, 2022-04-03
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    • Persistent layer in Texas Meadows

    Date
    Activity
    Skiing

    With the MSU Avy 2 class today. We dug 3 separate pits on the NE aspect off the top of Texas Meadows. Two pits had ECTX and one inbetween had an ECTP23 @ 55cm down failing on a persistent facet layer. Bottom half of the entire snowpack was still facets to the ground. Boot sunk to the ground once we reached that layer in the pit.

    Region
    Bridger Range
    Location (from list)
    Texas Meadow
    Observer Name
    Colton Ellingson

    Persistent layer in Texas meadows

    Date
    Activity
    Skiing

    With the MSU Avy 2 class today. We dug 3 separate pits on the NE aspect off the top of Texas Meadows. Two pits had ECTX and one inbetween had an ECTP23 @ 55cm down failing on a persistent facet layer. Bottom half of the entire snowpack was still facets to the ground. Boot sunk to the ground once we reached that layer in the pit.

    Region
    Bridger Range
    Location (from list)
    Texas Meadow
    Observer Name
    Colton Ellingson
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