22-23

We rode up to Henderson Bench and then rode up the Goose Lake drainage. We dug two pits today, and we found buried weak layers that failed and propagated in both pits. On Henderson Bench (NE aspect) there was 7’ of snow (HS 213 cm), and we got an ECTP28 on a layer of buried surface hoar 2.5’ below the surface. We also dug on a west aspect above Goose Creek. There was 6’ of snow (HS 190 cm). The 14” of new snow had a SWE of 1.7”. Here, we got an ECTP 14 on a layer of near surface facets and surface hoar 1.5’ below the surface. After two days of finding buried weak layers that failed and propagated on different aspects, it’s apparent that triggering an avalanche on these buried weak layers is possible throughout the area.

While driving to work from Ennis on Jack Creek Rd, I observed a natural avalanche occurring on an unnamed peak.  Approx location is 45 22' 57"N 111 28' 49"W at approx. 9000'

From text: "went up to Champagne Sherbet to ice climb but then there was a big fracture on the approach! Got to a safe spot and dug to see - a strange drifted wind slab over the old belay area has created a scary snow cave trap! We bailed out of there..."

From text: "went up to Champagne Sherbet to ice climb but then there was a big fracture on the approach! Got to a safe spot and dug to see - a strange drifted wind slab over the old belay area has created a scary snow cave trap! We bailed out of there..."

On 1/29/23 we saw a lot of recent natural avalanches which likely ran late on 1/27/23 or the morning of 1/28/23. Photo: GNFAC

On 1/29/23 we saw a lot of recent natural avalanches which likely ran late on 1/27/23 or the morning of 1/28/23. Photo: GNFAC

On 1/29/23 we saw a lot of recent natural avalanches which likely ran late on 1/27/23 or the morning of 1/28/23. Photo: GNFAC