24-25
Unstable conditions in Island Park
Date
Activity
Snowmobiling
Felt two very large whoomps (collapsing) just off the big springs/two top trail. They happened in the same spot 5 minutes apart.
Region
Island Park
Location (from list)
Two Top
Observer Name
Cheyenne Hollingsworth- Ride Rasmussen Style
Ross Peak Meadows
Date
Activity
Skiing
Toured up to the low angle meadows on the NE shoulder of Ross Peak. Dug a 8000ft and found no action in an extended column test but a significant result in a propagation saw test (PST END 20/100) at about 90 cm down. Some recent small avalanches in steep terrain along Brackett Creek that broke naturally within the storm snow from 1/3.
Region
Bridger Range
Location (from list)
Ross Peak
Observer Name
Christopher Pruden
Remote Triggered Avalanche Lionhead
Date
Activity
Snowmobiling
Remote triggered this avalanche at Lionhead. We were snowmobiling to the left of where the avalanche occurred. No one was caught.
Coordinates: 44°43'36.8"N 111°19'05.0"W
Region
Lionhead Range
Location (from list)
LIONHEAD AREA
Observer Name
Ben
New Snow and Wind at Buck Ridge
Date
Activity
Snowmobiling
Today, we rode up to Buck Ridge and into the First and Second Yellow Mules. It snowed lightly and winds blew predominantly from the North. Visibility was virtually non-existent all day. No signs of recent avalanches were seen beyond one that was reported to us on 12/30 in the First Yellow Mule (Observation). No cracking or collapsing was noted.
We dug snowpits in both the First and Second Yellow Mules. They both showed layers of new and decomposing snow on top of weaker layers near the base. In the First Yellow Mule, our pit location was notably shallower and had well developed facets and depth hoar at the base.
Winds were actively redistributing snow all day. The snowpack continues to be tested by the weight of new snow over the last week, and now by stronger winds. Weak layers exist at the foundation of the snow. Keeping all that in mind, we chose to stay off of slopes steeper than 30 degrees. And thankfully, with daily snowfall this week, there is great coverage and a lot of fun to be had riding low-angle powder.
Region
Northern Madison
Location (from list)
Buck Ridge
Observer Name
H. Darby
Skier triggered large Wind Slab on the Ramp
The Ramp
Bridger Range
Code
HS-ASu-R1-D1-I
Elevation
8500
Aspect
E
Latitude
45.82800
Longitude
-110.93300
Notes
Toured up the ramp this morning, found between 3-6" of new snow on the skin track, winds were fairly strong from the north/northwest and moving snow. Snow was falling heavily for the duration of the tour. As we made our last switchback in the ridge line meadow (8500ft directly east facing) near the top of the ramp, we triggered a wind slab. It propagated about 200 ft wide and was 3 ft at the deepest point. Interestingly on the edges and near the bottom (downhill side) of the slab it was only a few inches deep. It broke on the interface between the wind loaded snow and the light and dry snow we received a few days ago. When we entered the upper meadow there was no evidence of tracks from the day before. Further down the ramp we found cross loaded rolls that produced shooting cracks and collapses, and active snow loading from the new snow and wind. A half hour later on our ski down, the skin track was partially buried by new snow as we exited the area.
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Hard slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
1
D size
1
Bed Surface
I - Interface between new and old snow
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
24.0 inches
Slab Width
200.00ft
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year
We triggered a wind slab. It propagated about 200 ft wide and was 3 ft at the deepest point. Interestingly on the edges and near the bottom (downhill side) of the slab it was only a few inches deep. It broke on the interface between the wind loaded snow and the light and dry snow we received a few days ago. Photo: A Shafer
Avalanche Details: Skier triggered large Wind Slab on the Ramp
Bridger Range, 2025-01-04
We triggered a wind slab. It propagated about 200 ft wide and was 3 ft at the deepest point. Interestingly on the edges and near the bottom (downhill side) of the slab it was only a few inches deep. It broke on the interface between the wind loaded snow and the light and dry snow we received a few days ago. Photo: A Shafer
Avalanche Details: Skier triggered large Wind Slab on the Ramp
Bridger Range, 2025-01-04