Photos

Jan 10, We dug a pit on Henderson Bench on a northeast facing slope, and one on Scotch Bonnet on a south facing slope (pictured). Both showed a 4' thick strong slab on weaker, faceted snow at the base. The weak layers are not terribly weak and didn't produce concerning test scores, so they may get better when they get a break from snowfall and wind-loading, but for now recent avalanches show these layers are weak enough and will produce more big avalanches as snowfall and wind continue. Photo: GNFAC

We looked at two 4-6' deep persistent slab avalanches that were reported yesterday on the east side of Henderson Mtn., which likely happened yesterday (Jan 9). Wind-loading was the likely trigger. There were not tracks near the larger one above the bench, where riders could easily get to, but they could have been filled in. The other slide was below the highest point below a cornice and likely natural. Both looked like they broke on facets at the bottom of the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

We looked at two 4-6' deep persistent slab avalanches that were reported yesterday on the east side of Henderson Mtn., which likely happened yesterday (Jan. 9). Wind-loading was the likely trigger. There were not tracks near the larger one above the bench, where riders could easily get to, but they could have been filled in. The other slide was below the highest point below a cornice and likely natural. Both looked like they broke on facets at the bottom of the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

Wind slab Blackmore south bowl - 10 Jan 2025

Wind slab along Blackmore trail. Good clue before we got above treeline where more wind was blowing and moving snow

We triggered this wind slab by triggering a smaller one above it while descending the NE ridge of Blackmore. 
~10-12" deep and 25' wide

Big wind slab on N face of Mt Blackmore. We watched it cut loose at 14:25 from cornice fall.

Good news is that it didn't trigger a deeper slide.

On 01/08 my partner and I skied into Frazier basin in the northern Bridgers, we skied the love chutes east down and overall the descent was pretty wind hammered from a downward wind. Once at the lake we took the Frazier return route where we found much better ski conditions in the corridor and decided to lap some of the features. We ended up triggering a small wind slab at around 8k on a NE aspect that broke about a foot deep and ran about 25 yards. Very dense wind slabs were forming on a lot of the aspects getting out of Frazier and we opted to not test our luck any further for the day. 
 

Photo: T. Johns

On 01/08 my partner and I skied into Frazier basin in the northern Bridgers, we skied the love chutes east down and overall the descent was pretty wind hammered from a downward wind. Once at the lake we took the Frazier return route where we found much better ski conditions in the corridor and decided to lap some of the features. We ended up triggering a small wind slab at around 8k on a NE aspect that broke about a foot deep and ran about 25 yards. Very dense wind slabs were forming on a lot of the aspects getting out of Frazier and we opted to not test our luck any further for the day. 
 

Photo: T. Johns

On 01/08 my partner and I skied into Frazier basin in the northern Bridgers, we skied the love chutes east down and overall the descent was pretty wind hammered from a downward wind. Once at the lake we took the Frazier return route where we found much better ski conditions in the corridor and decided to lap some of the features. We ended up triggering a small wind slab at around 8k on a NE aspect that broke about a foot deep and ran about 25 yards. Very dense wind slabs were forming on a lot of the aspects getting out of Frazier and we opted to not test our luck any further for the day. 

Photo: T. Johns

On Jan 9 We saw many avalanches of various types and ages. Some occurred today and within the last 24 hours and some were up to a week old. Avalanche types ranged from 3-6' deep and broke on weak layers near the bottom of the snowpack to shallow soft, fresh wind slabs. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan 9 We saw many avalanches of various types and ages. Some occurred today and within the last 24 hours and some were up to a week old. Avalanche types ranged from 3-6' deep and broke on weak layers near the bottom of the snowpack to shallow soft, fresh wind slabs. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan. 9 we rode away from our snowpit on Mt. Abundance we saw a fresh 3'deep x 10' wide slide that we might have remote triggered from the flat ridge above.

Jan. 9, About 45 minutes after we left a snowpit on Mt. Abundance, from a couple miles away, we saw a 4-6' deep avalanche that happened since we had been there, about 1000' up the ridge from our snowpit m. This slide was either natural or remote triggered by riders about 1000' away who were there after we were. Photo: GNFAC

Jan. 9, About 45 minutes after we left a snowpit on Mt. Abundance, from a couple miles away, we saw a 4-6' deep avalanche that happened since we had been there, about 1000' up the ridge from our snowpit m. This slide was either natural or remote triggered by riders about 1000' away who were there after we were. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan. 9 we saw this large avalanche on the north side of Fisher Mtn. that happened at some time in the last week (could have been 48 hours to a week old). Photo: GNFAC

On Jan 9, we saw one 3-4' deep slide that looked like it broke within recent new and wind-drifted snow on the north end of Henderson. Photo: GNFAC

There were a couple of avalanches on E Henderson, one that I think happened today, a few on E Sheep Mountain, some shallower avalanches, and plenty of loose dry snow moving around in the steeps. Photo: N Mattes 

There were a couple of avalanches on E Henderson, one that I think happened today, a few on E Sheep Mountain, some shallower avalanches, and plenty of loose dry snow moving around in the steeps. Photo: N Mattes 

There were a couple of avalanches on E Henderson, one that I think happened today, a few on E Sheep Mountain, some shallower avalanches, and plenty of loose dry snow moving around in the steeps. Photo: N Mattes