Photos

A recent natural avalanche observed 1/16/23 (less than a day old) on Miller Ridge. SS-N-R1-D1.5-O and probably broke on the surface hoar layer. Photo: GNFAC

Photo from 1/16/23 of an avalanche on an east-northeast facing slope below Henderson ridge. It appeared to be snowbike triggered and 1-2+ days old. 150' wide and 250' vertical. HS-AMu-R2-D2-O. It appeared to have broke about 2' deep on that layer of surface hoar. Photo: GNFAC

Photo from 1/16/23 of a cornice triggered avalanche on Miller Ridge that broke to the ground, appears to be many days or weeks old. GNFAC.

Dug a pit on the east side of Henderson at the ridgeline above Henderson Bench. ENE, 10,075' elev. ECTP19 x3 on a layer of surface hoar buried 60cm (2 feet) deep. HS 260cm. There was an avalanche a few hundred feet north on an east-northeast facing slope below the ridge. It appeared to be snowbike triggered and 1-2+ days old. 150' wide and 250' vertical. HS-AMu-R2-D2-O. It appeared to have broke about 2' deep on that layer of surface hoar. There was also a more recent natural avalanche (less than a day old) on Miller Ridge, slightly smaller. SS-N-R1-D1.5-O and probably broke on the surface hoar layer. Photo: GNFAC

A photo of a skier-triggered avalanche above Hebgen Lake. Photo: S. Reinsel

Sinking waist deep into faceted snow in the 1st Yellowmule. GNFAC photo. 1/13/23

Darren Johnson was a passionate skier, patroller, and wildland firefighter and this fund helps his memory live on. During the week of January 16, 2023, there are two events happening to help spread awareness about the DJ Fund and generate donations for the next recipients to attend National Avalanche School in October 2024. The first event is at the Independent Theatre on Tuesday, January 17. This charity event has a $10 entry fee which includes a raffle ticket to a silent auction. On Thursday, January 19, join us at Beehive Basin Brewery for a raffle and pint night in which $1 from every pint sold goes into the DJ Memorial Fund.

To donate to the Darren Johnson Avalanche Education Memorial Fund visit djmemorialfund.org, or join us at these two exciting events hosted by Yellowstone Club Ski Patrol. Huge thanks to all who have sponsored and donated to these events.

From obs:

While skiing down 'Fat Maid' I triggered a shallow wind slab, after I was about 3/4ths of the way down the couloir. The slide broke to my left as I entered a wider section of the run, that holds a small perched bowl feature (which is what ripped out). The slide didn't propagate out into the main couloir, so the debris never impacted me. Even if it had, I don't think it would've been big enough to knock myself or any other skier off their feet. The slide was about 1/2 the width of the couloir and ran out to about 3/4ths of the apron's length (R2 D1?). The crown was 1-3" deep and maybe 30-40' wide. 

Photo: C. Kussmaul

Snowmobile triggered avalanche in Island Park near Mt Jefferson/Sawtelle Peak. Photo: Anon

Skinned up to the ridge and when we were almost to the top my partner was out front and triggered a noticeable whumpf.    ESE aspect, 8950 ft.

HS = 135

SH at 105 cm, ECTP3

DH at 45 cm, ECTP23

Snowboarder triggered this slide on a rollover on East Republic. Reportedly ran 80' wide, 1-1.5' deep. No one was caught.

Photo attached of a fresh natural avalanche, just south of Cooke City today.  It appears to have run last night or this morning.  (photographed at noon)

It's on a NE aspect, about 8100', directly above the ice climb known as 'Silver Gate Center'.  I'd estimate the crown to be about 10" deep and 30' wide.

Layer of greatest concern is about 30 cm down from the surface. Small grained facets on a crust that was reactive to shovel shear.

slab layer about 30 cm down (1 foot) released when a shovel was put behind it with a sudden pop and very little friction. 

Small slide off the Henderson ridge by the radio hut. Looks to have broken in the last couple days. GNFAC photo. 1/10/2023

Slide on Chimney Rock. The one on Chimney Rock (triggered Sunday, Jan 8th) was not big, but more indicative of weak layers at the ground. Chimney was 2 slides side-by-side, mid-slope, that likely went at the same time. These likely broke on facets near the ground. The snowpack was thin there. GNFAC photo.

A rider triggered a small avalanche in First Yellowmule on Sunday that broke approximately 6-8" deep, 60' wide, and ran 20'. Photo: D. Kristensen

From Obs: "Observed recent small wind slab avalanches under the ridgeline as well as one larger slide that broke on weak snow near the ground, likely cause by cornice fall."

We found a layer of preserved surface hoar that propagated failure in the Taylor Fork. This will be something to watch with incoming snow. Photo: GNFAC

Skier unintentionally triggered and was caught in wind slab avalanche on the Y couloir in Sheep Creek Drainage. Skier was carried 10m before self arresting. The slide ran ~250m down and broke across the entire width of the couloir. There were no injuries and skied away.