Trip Planning for Northern Madison

A group remotely triggered a wet slab avalanche from the ridge top. There were shooting cracks that connected their location to the avalanche. This is an interesting of persistent weak layer and wet snow avalanche problems. Photo: M Harry 

A group remotely triggered a wet slab avalanche from the ridge top. There were shooting cracks that connected their location to the avalanche. This is an interesting of persistent weak layer and wet snow avalanche problems. Photo: M Harry 

Observed on 04/05/2024: "Photo of recent loose wet avalanches that likely happened 24-48 hours ago on SW-W aspect at ~9800'" Photo: Z. Peterson

Observed on 04/05/2024: "Photo of recent loose wet avalanches that likely happened 24-48 hours ago on SW-W aspect at ~9800'" Photo: Z. Peterson

On a small test slope near Muddy Creek we intentionally triggered several small avalanches in wind-loaded terrain by knocking chunks of cornice off. Photo: GNFAC

While riding we saw cracking forming near our sleds in fresh drifts: Photo: GNFAC

Strong wind transporting snow at ridge tops. Photo: GNFAC

We saw this recent avalanche near the Bear Creek wilderness boundary while riding on 03/24/2024. Photo: GNFAC

We saw this natural avalanche on a wind-loaded slope behind McAtee Basin. Photo: GNFAC

A rider triggered this avalanche in Taylor Fork on 3/16/24. "Avalanche broke about 400ft wide and slid for 250 ft. 4-2ft deep at the crown."

Skiers saw a natural avalanche on east-facing terrain at 9500' in Beehive Basin. Photo: Anonymous 

Skiers triggered this slope by dropping a section of cornice onto the slope. This avalanche broke 500' wide, and ranged in depth from 18" or 6'. Photo: P. Hess

Skiers triggered this slope by dropping a section of cornice onto the slope. This avalanche broke 500' wide, and ranged in depth from 18" or 6'. Photo: P. Hess

Skiers triggered this slope by dropping a section of cornice onto the slope. This avalanche broke 500' wide, and ranged in depth from 18" or 6'. Photo: P. Hess

Skiers triggered this slope by dropping a section of cornice onto the slope. This avalanche broke 500' wide, and ranged in depth from 18" or 6'. Photo: P. Hess

From obs: "On a tour up Middle Peak, I saw recent avalanches, with large propagation in Middle Basin and Beehive Basin." Photo Anonymous 

From obs: "On a tour up Middle Peak, I saw recent avalanches, with large propagation in Middle Basin and Beehive Basin." Photo Anonymous 

From IG: "Buck ridge south of slatts hill, remote trigger by a snowmobile today"

Skiers in Beehive Basin saw a natural avalanche on an east-facing slope. This avalanche likely happened in the last 24-48 hours. Photo: E. Heiman

Skiers intentionally triggered a small avalanche near the prayer flags in Bear Basin. This slope has avalanched previously this season. Photo: J Alford

Riders triggered this pair of avalanches while crossing below this terrain, roughly 150 yards away. The location of the triggers is marked by the "x's" in the photo. Photo: M. Rolfson 

Riders triggered this pair of avalanches while crossing below this terrain, roughly 150 yards away. Photo: M. Rolfson 

Rider on 02/23/2024 observed this large avalanche next to another avalanche they had triggered remotely. They likely triggered this one as well from afar while cross terrain below. Photo: M. Rolfson

Riders on 02/23/2024 triggered this avalanche from 150 yards away while traversing below. Photo: M. Rolfson

Riders on 02/23/2024 triggered this avalanche from 150 yards away while traversing below. Photo: M. Rolfson

On 2/18/24 near Buck Ridge and Muddy Creek we saw at least eight recent avalanches that occurred at various times over the last 1-3 days, natural and/or remote triggered by riders. A group in the parking lot mentioned seeing many slides actively happen in this area on Friday 2/16. Most were 2-3' deep hard slabs, ranging from 50'-500' wide. Photo: GNFAC

On 2/18/24 near Buck Ridge and Muddy Creek we saw at least eight recent avalanches that occurred at various times over the last 1-3 days, natural and/or remote triggered by riders. A group in the parking lot mentioned seeing many slides actively happen in this area on Friday 2/16. Most were 2-3' deep hard slabs, ranging from 50'-500' wide. Photo: GNFAC

On 2/18/24 near Buck Ridge and Muddy Creek we saw at least eight recent avalanches that occurred at various times over the last 1-3 days, natural and/or remote triggered by riders. A group in the parking lot mentioned seeing many slides actively happen in this area on Friday 2/16. Most were 2-3' deep hard slabs, ranging from 50'-500' wide. Photo: GNFAC

On 2/18/24 near Buck Ridge and Muddy Creek we saw at least eight recent avalanches that occurred at various times over the last 1-3 days, natural and/or remote triggered by riders. A group in the parking lot mentioned seeing many slides actively happen in this area on Friday 2/16. Most were 2-3' deep hard slabs, ranging from 50'-500' wide. Photo: GNFAC

On 2/18/24 near Buck Ridge and Muddy Creek we saw at least eight recent avalanches that occurred at various times over the last 1-3 days, natural and/or remote triggered by riders. A group in the parking lot mentioned seeing many slides actively happen in this area on Friday 2/16. Most were 2-3' deep hard slabs, ranging from 50'-500' wide. Photo: GNFAC

On 2/18/24 near Buck Ridge and Muddy Creek we saw at least eight recent avalanches that occurred at various times over the last 1-3 days, natural and/or remote triggered by riders. A group in the parking lot mentioned seeing many slides actively happen in this area on Friday 2/16. Most were 2-3' deep hard slabs, ranging from 50'-500' wide. Photo: GNFAC

An avalanche we either triggered from 750-800 feet away or it broke naturally. This avalanche happened when we were riding near the larger of the two avalanches from yesterday, on the south side of Cedar Mtn. It was a wind-loaded slope, actively loading. The avalanche was ~130' wide with 100' of 4-12" deep new snow/wind slab and 30' wide broke almost 3 feet deep on weak snow near the ground. Photo: GNFAC

An avalanche we either triggered from 750-800 feet away or it broke naturally. This avalanche happened when we were riding near the larger of the two avalanches from yesterday, on the south side of Cedar Mtn. It was a wind-loaded slope, actively loading. The avalanche was ~130' wide with 100' of 4-12" deep new snow/wind slab and 30' wide broke almost 3 feet deep on weak snow near the ground. Photo: GNFAC

An avalanche we either triggered from 750-800 feet away or it broke naturally. This avalanche happened when we were riding near the larger of the two avalanches from yesterday, on the south side of Cedar Mtn. It was a wind-loaded slope, actively loading. The avalanche was ~130' wide with 100' of 4-12" deep new snow/wind slab and 30' wide broke almost 3 feet deep on weak snow near the ground. Photo: GNFAC

An avalanche we either triggered from 750-800 feet away or it broke naturally. This avalanche happened when we were riding near the larger of the two avalanches from yesterday, on the south side of Cedar Mtn. It was a wind-loaded slope, actively loading. The avalanche was ~130' wide with 100' of 4-12" deep new snow/wind slab and 30' wide broke almost 3 feet deep on weak snow near the ground. Photo: GNFAC

An avalanche we either triggered from 750-800 feet away or it broke naturally. This avalanche happened when we were riding near the larger of the two avalanches from yesterday, on the south side of Cedar Mtn. It was a wind-loaded slope, actively loading. The avalanche was ~130' wide with 100' of 4-12" deep new snow/wind slab and 30' wide broke almost 3 feet deep on weak snow near the ground. Photo: GNFAC

This avalanche was triggered by riders from flat terrain far below on February 17. Photo: GNFAC

From BSSP on 2/17/24: "Midafternoon we received another report of a skier triggered avalanche in the Lone Lake Circe, specifically The Mullet. The reporting party contacted several ski patrollers via cell phone and confirmed that nobody was injured or had taken the full ride. This avalanche failed near the ground on a high elevation NW facing slope with the weight of a single skier with an estimated size of HS-ASu-R3-D2.5-O."

From BSSP on 2/17/24: "Midafternoon we received another report of a skier triggered avalanche in the Lone Lake Circe, specifically The Mullet. The reporting party contacted several ski patrollers via cell phone and confirmed that nobody was injured or had taken the full ride. This avalanche failed near the ground on a high elevation NW facing slope with the weight of a single skier with an estimated size of HS-ASu-R3-D2.5-O."

Riders triggered this avalanche remotely on 02/17/2024 while riding near the Bear Creek wilderness boundary. Photo: Anonymous