24-25

We did note two small avalanches along the Carrot Basin headwall from sometime in the last two days that broke on weak snow near the ground. These areas looked to have a shallower snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

We did note two small avalanches along the Carrot Basin headwall from sometime in the last two days that broke on weak snow near the ground. These areas looked to have a shallower snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

Skied south of Cooke today and noticed a large natural avalanche just north of the South Siren. N-R2-D2.5-O. It wasn't fresh and likely ran during the last storm cycle. 

We dug on an east aspect at 9800', ECTX, HS150. No cr, co.

As my elevation increased, so did the wind. Heavy gusts were moving snow. Clouds were visible and moving fast above Bridger Bowl and Ross peak. Ross Pass was visibly wind scoured. 
 

I didn’t observe any natural avalanches in the steep terrain along the ridge between ski area northern boundary and Ross peak, but did notice some ski tracks (I believe in the “Trident, Dog Leg chute”). 

Observed one avalanche in the steep chutes just outside the N Bridger Bowl boundary, SS-R2-D1-AS

HS between 150 and 200 cm. 90-120 cm of storm snow over firm mid Dec layers over facets. 15cm from the last few days. Some wind transport at mid elevations with lots of W wind up at ridgetop throughout the day. Much windier than expected in Bradley Meadow with moderate winds swirling from N and W. Sky was BKN and, no new snow. Temps around 10F.

We rode into the Taylor Fork today to check out conditions after the new snow from the last two weeks. We traveled up to the weather station above Sunlight Basin, along Sage Basin to the the Beaver Slide, and through Carrot Basin to the wilderness boundary. 

No cracking or collapsing was noted today. We did note two small avalanches along the Carrot Basin headwall from sometime in the last two days that broke on weak snow near the ground. These areas looked to have a shallower snowpack. Besides old crowns previously reported, and these two slides, we did not see any new avalanches in the area. 

Near Sunlight Basin, we performed a snowpit test on an east aspect at 9480' (HS 98). It propagated (ECTP11) on weak, faceted snow near the ground. Our second pit, at the wilderness boundary, was on a south aspect at 8840' (HS 122). It propagated on weak snow below a melt-freeze crust near the ground (ECTP24). 

With blue skies, sunshine, and a lack of cracking and collapsing, it was easy to be lulled into a false sense of confidence about our snowpack. But with a loading event ending only yesterday and our unstable test results, we chose to reign in our enthusiasm, follow a conservative travel plan, and stick to riding lower-angle powder. 

No signs on instability on Mt. Ellis.  Skinned to the top and descended in the trees to the north of the burn.  Ellis does not seem to have the troubling snow structure found in much of the advisory area.