Photos

Photo: S. Starr

From e-mail: "Witnessed this road cut collapse in hyalite today , by the Palisades parking lot. Easily a foot of dense snow on 12-18" of sugar. Audible collapse as my dog climbed the embankment." C. Bieniek

From e-mail: "This was a snowmobile triggered slide in a S aspect in the Blue Creek Drainage SE of Reas Peak in the Centennials.  No one was caught and no injuries as far as I can tell".

We found this fresh skier triggered avalanche in Middle Basin today 1/5/19. East aspect. 9,400’ elev. It broke 1-2’ deep on weak, sugary facets. We had stable results in our stability tests (so did another group nearby), but this slide and recent reports of collapsing in the area indicate an untrustworthy and unstable, poor snowpack structure.

We found this fresh skier triggered avalanche in Middle Basin today 1/5/19. East aspect. 9,400’ elev. It broke 1-2’ deep on weak, sugary facets. We had stable results in our stability tests (so did another group nearby), but this slide and recent reports of collapsing in the area indicate an untrustworthy and unstable, poor snowpack structure. 

We found this fresh skier triggered avalanche in Middle Basin today 1/5/19. East aspect. 9,400’ elev. It broke 1-2’ deep on weak, sugary facets. We had stable results in our stability tests (so did another group nearby), but this slide and recent reports of collapsing in the area indicate an untrustworthy and unstable, poor snowpack structure. Photo: GNFAC

We found this fresh skier triggered avalanche in Middle Basin today 1/5/19. East aspect. 9,400’ elev. It broke 1-2’ deep on weak, sugary facets. We had stable results in our stability tests (so did another group nearby), but this slide and recent reports of collapsing in the area indicate an untrustworthy and unstable, poor snowpack structure. Photo: GNFAC

We found this fresh skier triggered avalanche in Middle Basin today 1/5/19. East aspect. 9,400’ elev. It broke 1-2’ deep on weak, sugary facets. We had stable results in our stability tests (so did another group nearby), but this slide and recent reports of collapsing in the area indicate an untrustworthy and unstable, poor snowpack structure. Photo: GNFAC

This was a recent snowmobile triggered avalanche In Tepee Basin, southern Madison range. This slide failed on facets near the ground and ran into a terrain trap. With more snow and wind in the forecast, it will be important to make conservative terrain selections. Photo: GNFAC 

From e-mail: "...in bhive today, as I rolled into a W facing gully  at around 9800ft I got a good whumph, I noticed a 25ft wide crack probably about 8 inches deep, it did not run just fractured.  I checked it out seemed like it broke on an older slab sitting on that facet layer from early December." Photo: T. Grande

From e-mail: "At Hyalite Lake we looked to our right at a slope (east facing?) and there was an avalanche that probably released 2 to 4 days ago. Probably 1 to 1.5 ft crown. Didn’t run far.... dug up above the lake. ECTN 22 about 40 cm down. Wind slab and new snow on small facets." Photo: K. Birkeland

We rode into Cabin Creek behind Sage Peak (via Taylor Fork) and found 2.5' of snow. The lower half was weak, sugary and unsupportive. The upper half was a slab of recent snow that collapsed with moderate force (ECTP 11). Our sled's tracks easily broke through 2.5' of snow to the ground, a sign of poor snowpack structure. Photo: GNFAC

Multiple avalanches released on wind-loaded slopes in the Bridger Range south of Bridger Bowl. The largest propagated a few hundred feet wide on Bridger Peak. Smaller slabs released in the Pinnacles and in Argentina bowl. Photo: A. Schauer

This older crown was observed on January 2 or 3 below the SW aspect of Elephant Mtn. in Hyalite. Photo: J. Castle

"A 4-14" deep by 30ft wide slab released naturally? below dry martha, we think this morning (1/3/19). it ran approx 300ft over the bottom cliff and stopped near the south bowl traverse." Photo: BBSP

Skiers on Wilson Peak observed "widespread whoomfing and could visibly see the slopes drop/collapse on the climb through the trees". They dug a pit and found facets buried 40 cm deep and unstable test results at ECTP23. Photo: J. Die

Skiers in Hyalite saw recent slab avalanches that failed below the most recent snow. They observed recent activity on "East, South and Northerly aspects in the Divide and Hyalite basins". Photo: C. Kussmaul

Skiers in Hyalite saw recent slab avalanches that failed below the most recent snow. They observed recent activity on "East, South and Northerly aspects in the Divide and Hyalite basins". Photo: C. Kussmaul

Multiple slab avalanches released on Crown Butte in Cooke City on slopes loaded by new snow and wind over the past few days. Photo: T. McCoy

Multiple slab avalanches released on Crown Butte in Cooke City on slopes loaded by new snow and wind over the past few days. Photo: T. McCoy