Photos

The 10' deep avalanche in 2nd Yellowmule is almost completely filled in now. In its place are massive cornices overhanging the slope. Give these beasts a lot of extra room as they can break back far from the edge. Photo: GNFAC

Ian Hoyer stands in a snowpit in Beehive Basin. Avalanches are getting harder to trigger, but in more shallow areas we are still finding a poor snowpack structure. The stability test scores are climbing higher, but still propagating and we did not ski the adjacent slope. Photo: GNFAC

February 1, King and Queen of the Ridge at Bridger Bowl (fundraiser). This is the Friends of the Avalanche Center’s second biggest fundraiser of the year. Come on out and help us raise money by hiking and skiing laps on the ridge. Prizes, camaraderie and a good time is guaranteed. Register with Bridger to hike in the event, and create a pledge page to raise funds with your Ridge laps.

"A photo of a few natural avalanches on the NE face of the unnamed peak at the back of the basin. They appear to be cornice triggered, shallow crown depths no more than 1-2 feet deep. I also observed a natural avalanche on the E face of Mt. Bole that appeared cornice triggered, but couldn't get a good picture. The crown depth varied but probably 2-3 feet deep at most." Photo: M. Lavery

Seen from the summit of Mt. Blackmore in Hyalite on Saturday 1/25. Photo: S. Peterson

Crown of a deep slab avalanche in the North Summit Snowfield at Big Sky Resort triggered using explosives on 1/24/2020. Photo: Big Sky Patrol

Crown of a deep slab avalanche in the North Summit Snowfield at Big Sky Resort triggered using explosives on 1/24/2020. Photo: Big Sky Patrol

We skied at Mt. Ellis on 1/24/20 and had 3-10' cracks break around our skis. The snowpack is very sugary, unsupportive and weak. Photo: GNFAC

The snowpack on Mt. Ellis on January 24, 2020 is shallow and weak. It is not yet unstable, but would only need 6-12" to be very dangerous. Photo: GNFAC

Small snowmobiler triggered avalanche in McAtee Basin. From Instagram: "I watched a snowmobiler set this avalanche off today" T. Chamberlain

Small snowmobiler triggered avalanche in McAtee Basin. From Instagram: "I watched a snowmobiler set this avalanche off today" T. Chamberlain

From email:

"I wanted to make you aware of a snowmobile triggered slide in Lionhead today. Fortunately, I was not injured, was able to stay completely on top, climbed through the majority of the snow wash after seeing it begin to break, and relatively slowly slid down with the last of the moving snow while still on the machine. When I came to a stop, I stood up and was completely free of the snow. Our group is trained in avalanche safety, practiced beacon use prior to leaving town in the morning, were wearing avy gear, and were very fortunate that this ended up the way it did. 

A clear reminder that this can happen to any of us and to be careful out there."

Photo: Anonymous 

A large natural avalanche observed on the southwest face of Wolverine Peak. Photo: D. Wycoff

A large natural avalanche observed on the northwest face of Median Peak. Photo: D. Wycoff

Spotted the crown on our way down from Ripcurl yesterday, we got a closer look today when we toured into High Hayden. N aspect 10200' Photo: H. Coppolillo

Spotted the crown on our way down from Ripcurl yesterday, we got a closer look today when we toured into High Hayden. N aspect 10200' Photo: H. Coppolillo

This cornice triggered avalanche was on a NE facing slope at 9700'. It broke 300' wide, 3-6' deep and 150' vertical. It likely broke on 1/15 or 1/16/2020. Photo: GNFAC

The avalanche broke at the ground when it was triggered by a cornice fall. It broke 3-6' deep and 300' wide. Photo: GNFAC

This avalanche occurred on a heavily wind-loaded slope from a cornice fall. The area is to the north of Lulu Pass and Scotch Bonnet. Photo: GNFAC

Another view of the large natural avalanche on Mt Fox that occurred on 1/14/2020. Photo GNFAC