Photos

Debris from a natural avalanche that skiers watched happen on Sunday 1/27. Photo: A. Whitmore

Skiers reported multiple large natural avalanches in the Arrastra drainage in the Absarokas. They estimated the recent storm cycle totals to be 3-5'. Photo: A. Whitmore 

We triggered this avalanche remotely from about 50 feet above the crown up on the ridge. The crown was 1-2' deep, 100' wide, and ran between 200 and 300 vertical feet through trees and cliffs. Another slide failed sympathetically at the same time, 100' down the ridgeline. The slides failed on a 40 cm thick layer of depth hoar, which composed half of the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

We triggered this avalanche remotely from about 50 feet above the crown up on the ridge. The crown was 1-2' deep, 100' wide, and ran between 200 and 300 vertical feet through trees and cliffs. Another slide failed sympathetically at the same time, 100' down the ridgeline. The slides failed on a 40 cm thick layer of depth hoar, which composed half of the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

We triggered this avalanche remotely from about 50 feet above the crown up on the ridge. The crown was 1-2' deep, 100' wide, and ran between 200 and 300 vertical feet through trees and cliffs. Another slide failed sympathetically at the same time, 100' down the ridgeline. The slides failed on a 40 cm thick layer of depth hoar, which composed half of the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

Skiers witnessed this avalanche slide on a low angle (30-32 degree) slope and break through very tight trees.

Skiers witnessed this avalanche slide on a low angle (30-32 degree) slope and break through very tight trees.

Bridger Bowl Ski patrol snapped a photo of this natural slab avalanche on the west side of the Bridgers near Truman Gulch. Photo: BBSP

Cracking and collapsing on a 31-degree slope near the Lionshead area down south. The slab was 3-4' deep, and the slope was on the verge of being steep enough to avalanche. From the email: " fractured about 20’x10’ area initially, maybe 3-4’ deep. We got off the hill and it continued to fracture in bigger spots but did not slide more than a foot total." Photo: S. Thompson

Skiers in the Bridgers saw multiple large natural avalanches in the Bridgers that had released during recent snow and wind loading. From the email: "Looks like things really went off in the Bridgers in the last few days. Loads of natural avalanche activity, much of it appearing to fail on deeper layers than the new/old interface." This is the third large avalanche that has been reported on Bridger Peak this season. Photo: B. VandenBos

Skiers in the Bridgers saw multiple large natural avalanches in the Bridgers that had released during recent snow and wind loading. From the email: "Looks like things really went off in the Bridgers in the last few days. Loads of natural avalanche activity, much of it appearing to fail on deeper layers than the new/old interface." This avalanche in the Hourglass was triggered by a large chunk of cornice that broke off. Photo: B. VandenBos

Skiers in the Bridgers saw multiple large natural avalanches in the Bridgers that had released during recent snow and wind loading. From the email: "Looks like things really went off in the Bridgers in the last few days. Loads of natural avalanche activity, much of it appearing to fail on deeper layers than the new/old interface." Photo: B. VandenBos

Skiers triggered this avalanche in dense trees while ascending Mt. Ellis. From the email: "While subsequently skiing up through dense trees climbing to the north to attempt to reach the mid section of the going-home chute, a medium-size bowl-shaped opening in the trees released a soft slab just as we were entering the opening. The crown was ~24” deep and ~80-100’ across. Total snow depth in that area was less than three feet. The avalanche ran probably 500 vertical feet down a shallow gully. Neither my partner nor I where caught but way too close for comfort"

Skiers triggered this avalanche in dense trees while ascending Mt. Ellis. From the email: "While subsequently skiing up through dense trees climbing to the north to attempt to reach the mid section of the going-home chute, a medium-size bowl-shaped opening in the trees released a soft slab just as we were entering the opening. The crown was ~24” deep and ~80-100’ across. Total snow depth in that area was less than three feet. The avalanche ran probably 500 vertical feet down a shallow gully. Neither my partner nor I where caught but way too close for comfort." 

Skiers triggered this avalanche in dense trees while ascending Mt. Ellis. From the email: "While subsequently skiing up through dense trees climbing to the north to attempt to reach the mid section of the going-home chute, a medium-size bowl-shaped opening in the trees released a soft slab just as we were entering the opening. The crown was ~24” deep and ~80-100’ across. Total snow depth in that area was less than three feet. The avalanche ran probably 500 vertical feet down a shallow gully. Neither my partner nor I where caught but way too close for comfort."

A skier in Hyalite reported widespread avalanche activity in the Divide drainage. From the email: "Saw this set of crowns just to the looker's left of Divide Peak proper.  Appear to be cornice triggered, I suspect they all released sympathetically, maybe sometime yesterday.  Impressively connected, definite PWL issue. SE aspect. Crowns spanned nearly 1/2 mile of terrain." Photo: B. VandenBos

A skier in Hyalite reported widespread avalanche activity in the Divide drainage. From the email: "Saw this set of crowns just to the looker's left of Divide Peak proper.  Appear to be cornice triggered, I suspect they all released sympathetically, maybe sometime yesterday.  Impressively connected, definite PWL issue. SE aspect. Crowns spanned nearly 1/2 mile of terrain." Photo: B. VandenBos

A skier in Hyalite reported widespread avalanche activity in the Divide drainage. From the email: "Saw this set of crowns just to the looker's left of Divide Peak proper.  Appear to be cornice triggered, I suspect they all released sympathetically, maybe sometime yesterday.  Impressively connected, definite PWL issue. SE aspect. Crowns spanned nearly 1/2 mile of terrain." Photo: B. VandenBos

A group with the MSU advanced avalanches class found multiple slab avalanches that released at various times during this week's storm. Three of the slides ran for a large portion of their slide path. This debris pile was from an avalanche that likely failed Friday morning, and was large enough to break small trees in the slide path. Ski tracks nearby suggest this avalanche was skier-triggered. Photo: A. Schauer

This avalanche on Wheeler Mountain failed right next to one that occurred on the same slope earlier in the week. Photo: G. Antonioli