Photos

Natural wet slab avalanche that ran during multiple days of well above freezing temperatures (4/26-4/28). Multiple days with high temperatures of 50-60 F and overnight lows in the mid-30s to 40 F created a wet snowpack and wet slab and wet loose avalanches slid naturally. Photo: GNFAC

Wet avalanches ran naturally last week during above freezing temperatures and sunshine after the last storm. Slides like this will be possible when the snowpack softens in the afternoon and will become more likely if the snowpack doesn't freeze overnight. Wet slides can run long distance and carry a lot of force. Photo: B. VandenBos

Recent snowfall followed by spring sunshine and above freezing temperatures created natural wet slab and wet loose activity. More slides like this are possible if temperatures do not freeze overnight, during heavy rain, or after the next snowfall. Photo: B. VandenBos

Cornices are massive and will break naturally with above freezing temperatures and hot, spring sun. Photo: B. VandenBos

Cornices are massive through the advisory area and will break naturally with above freezing temperatures and hot, spring sun. Photo: B. VandenBos

The town of Cooke City received 3-4" of heavy snow overnight. There is sure to be more in the mountains. Photo: Soda Butte Lodge Webcam (screenshot)

Cornices are a significant hazard this time of year. As temps warm above freezing, these overhanging masses of snow will become increasingly unstable. They can break farther back than you might expect and trigger large avalanches on the slopes below. They can fail naturally or with human triggers. 

This slide was triggered by the first skier of day off Saddle Peak. The skier was caught and carried 1,500 vertical feet. He was buried with his hand sticking out of snow. Unfortunately, he did not have a partner and was buried for over an hour. He did not survive. Photo: R. Gregoire   

This slide on Saddle Peak resulted in a fatality. It was triggered by a solo skier who was caught and buried. The slope was heavily wind loaded and the slide failed on a thin ice crust. Photo: R. Gregoire

Wet loose avalanches will be a growing concern as spring progresses. Sunshine, above freezing temps and rain can all produce dangerous wet snow avalanches. Watch for signs of instability such as roller balls, small point releases and wet snow above your boot top. Avoid being on or underneath steep slopes if signs on instability are observed. Photo: BBSP 

The crown ranged from 1-3' deep and was 75-100' wide. The avalanche was new, windblown snow on top of a thin ice crust. Aspect is east, slope angle is 37 degrees, and elevation is 9019'. Photo: GNFAC

Looking down the path with the burial location marked. Photo GNFAC

Looking down the path from the crown. The "X" marks the burial location. Photo: GNFAC

Looking uphill about half-way down the path. The crown can be seen at the skyline. Photo: GNFAC

The distance from the burial location to the crown line (seen at the top of path at the skyline) was 1500' vertical. The skier was buried with his hand sticking out of the snow. His head was about 1.5' from the surface.  Three rescuers got to him 75 minutes after he was caught. Photo: GNFAC

Large cornices loom over the slope where a skier triggered a fatal slide on Saturday (4/14) on Saddle Peak in the Bridger Range. Photo: P. Maleski

Both the crown and the victim's location are marked on the photo. The skier was carried 1500 vertical feet downslope and buried near the toe of the debris. Rescuers reached him 75 minutes after the slide occurred, but the avalanche was fatal. Photo: GNFAC

The avalanche was triggered by a solo skier, the first tracks of the day. The crown is marked, and the slide carried him down the path where he was fatally buried. Photo: GNFAC

A skier triggered the slide a few hundred feet from the top on a 37 degree rollover that was wind-loaded with the previous days 30" of new snow. The crown was 1-3 feet deep and 75-100 feet wide. Photo: GNFAC