This 4' deep snowpit shows the new snow over the last 4 days: everything above the blue card, over 2' of snow measuring 2" of SWE. Avalanches are breaking on the very weak, sugary snow (facets and depth hoar) 1-1.5 feet above the ground. The smooth surface in the bottom left of the photo is the failure plane. Photo: GNFAC
Bridger Bowl ski patrol noted natural avalanche debris below the cliffs of Saddle Peak. It appeared to involve only the new snow, but started high on the face and ran over the cliffs with a decent debris pile below going home chute.
From a skier: "as we were digging a pit, we got into a conversation with three skiers as they skinned past. They had skinned up Rip Curl (from Hayden Creek) and then continued S. along Woody Ridge. They experienced several large collapses along the ridge line and eventually remotely triggered a cornice collapse that set off an avalanche (described as a large powder cloud) in the Climax slide path (E. aspect)."
<p>Over the last couple days there have been reports of large natural avalanches, collapsing and cracking in the Bridger Range (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/24102">Saddle Peak and Truman</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/24112">N. Bridgers</a></strong>), <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/24098">Hyalite</a>, and the <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/24100">southern Gallatin Range</a>. Many of which broke wide on sugary, buried weak layers. Since Wednesday the mountains near Bozeman and Big Sky, and the southern Madison and Gallatin ranges received 2-4 feet of snow equal to 2-3.5” of snow water equivalent (SWE). Strong west-northwest winds over the last 48 hours drifted this snow into thick slabs that can avalanche naturally or easily be triggered by skiers or riders. Today, with continued snow and wind, very dangerous avalanche conditions exist and danger is HIGH on all slopes. Avoid travel on and underneath steep slopes.</p>
<p>Since Wednesday the mountains near Cooke City received over three feet of snow equal to 2.6” of snow water equivalent. On Friday a skier triggered and was partially buried in an avalanche south of town (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/24075">photo and details</a></strong>). Moderate to strong westerly wind the last couple days, with more snow and wind today make natural and human triggered avalanches likely. I was in Cooke City the last few days where avalanches breaking in the new snow were a growing concern, especially where new snow has been drifted into thicker slabs (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1BY8bb327k&list=PLXu5151nmAvQDzKmH…;). Avalanches of recent snow will be large enough to bury a person, and some slopes could break deeper on buried weak layers. Today the avalanche danger is HIGH on all slopes. Avoid travel on and underneath steep slopes.</p>
<p>Yesterday near Lionhead Ridge a snowmobiler triggered an avalanche that broke wide, and luckily nobody was caught (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/24111">photo</a></strong>). Since Wednesday the mountains near West Yellowstone received 2 feet of snow equal to 2.1” SWE, with an inch or two possible today. A layer of weak, sugary snow buried 3-4 feet deep can collapse under the weight of a person, and break wide across slopes (<a href="https://youtu.be/CI0HFvtLrf4"><strong>Lionhead video</strong></a>). Today human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible, especially on wind loaded slopes. Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE. Very careful route finding is essential.</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>website<…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong>mtavalanche@gmail.com</strong></a…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>
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AVALANCHE WARNING for Bridgers, Madisons, Gallatins, Cooke City
(snow totals @0600)
Skiers sent an IG post saying they remote triggered this slide from the adjacent road on 2/6/21.
Riders wrote that they triggerend an avalanche on a south facing slope in West Targhee Creek on 2/6/21. No one was caught.
Signs of a small natural avalanche on lower wolverine bowl and north Bradley's.
