Noticed a few inches (8) on top of a facet that was creating many wumpfing noises and you could feel it collapse under your foot. Purposefully chosen due to high avi danger, the slope didn't allow for anything to slide.
<p>Yesterday afternoon, a solo skier triggered a large avalanche on Saddle Peak south of Bridger Bowl (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/skier-triggered-slide-saddle-powd…;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/skier-triggered-large-avalanche-s…;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23489"><strong><u>detail</u></strong><…;). The slide broke 3 ft deep and ran 1700 vertical feet over large cliffs. Luckily the skier was not caught. Saddle Peak has only seen a handful of riders this year and this is the second large avalanche that has been triggered on it (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23396"><strong><u>details</u></strong>…;). These slides are clear evidence that the snowpack this year is weaker and more reactive than usual. The weak snow at the ground has been waiting all season for a slab to develop (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYjGdWjKAzc&list=PLXu5151nmAvQDzKmH…;). New snow and strong winds have now built a substantial slab and pushed those weak layers to their breaking point. Avalanches will be easily triggered today. Avoid steep wind-loaded slopes entirely and be extremely skeptical of any avalanche terrain. The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes in the Bridger Range and MODERATE on other slopes. </p>
<p>Yesterday, we got numerous reports of unstable test results, large collapses, and shooting cracks across the rest of the mountains from Bozeman to West Yellowstone (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/crack-upper-bear-basin"><strong><…;). These are all signs that the weak snow near the ground remains unstable and shouldn’t be trusted (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jzopnikTNE"><strong><u>video</u></stro…;). With slightly less new snow and wind-loading the snowpack is not on a hair trigger, but triggering a large and dangerous avalanche is very much a possibility. Watch for signs of instability and carefully assess the snowpack before committing to any steep slopes. With human triggered avalanches possible, the avalanche danger is MODERATE today. </p>
<p>Cooke City generally has a stronger snowpack and you are unlikely to trigger an avalanche today. The standard travel advice applies: ride with a partner, carry rescue gear, and only expose one person at a time to steep slopes. Wednesday’s snowmobile triggered slide on Crown Butte is a good reminder to stay vigilant and always be ready in case you get unlucky and trigger a slide (<a href="https://youtu.be/UEY5A4YXibg"><strong><u>video</u></strong></a>). The avalanche danger is LOW today.</p>
<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>websi…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong><u>mtavalanche@gmail.com</u></str…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>
See our education calendar for an up to date list of all local classes. Here are a few select upcoming events and opportunities to check out:
From obs; "After the four of us skied, transitioned, and started skinning back up, the fourth member of our party (who was the last person skinning) heard a loud "whumpf" and saw a shooting crack propagate from our skin track to the right and left of us, approximately 60-80' wide. The slope was around 25 degrees."
A second party of skiers also got a large whumpf in Bear Basin.
From obs; "After the four of us skied, transitioned, and started skinning back up, the fourth member of our party (who was the last person skinning) heard a loud "whumpf" and saw a shooting crack propagate from our skin track to the right and left of us, approximately 60-80' wide. The slope was around 25 degrees."
Photo: L. Ippolito
On January 1, 2021 at approximately 1530 a skier triggered an avalanche on Saddle Peak south of Bridger Bowl. He left from the ski area around 1445 and skin up the ridge out of bounds to the south. Shortly after, patrol witnessed the avalanche and then later saw the solo skier returning to the ski area after descending the bed surface of the avalanche. The skier reported the event to patrol when he returned. He stomped at the rollover below the summit, on the south end of the low angle ridge, and it broke 3 ft deep....ran down north central and the main face.
On January 1, 2021 at approximately 1500 hrs a skier triggered this avalanche on Saddle Peak south of Bridger Bowl. Photo: Bridger Bowl
On January 1, 2021 at approximately 1500 hrs a skier triggered this avalanche on Saddle Peak south of Bridger Bowl. Photo: Bridger Bowl
