Photos

A slab avalanche was spotted from the highway. This slope is to the north of Lionhead Ridge a few miles. Photo: B. VandenBos

Skiers near Mt. Blackmore got unstable test results near the top of a 125cm deep snowpack. Photo: L. Peters

On Thursday 11/21 skiers at Bridger noted: "...some activity (D1-D2) isolated to the new snow around rock features and ridgetops that were wind-affected..." Photo: G. Antonioli

On Thursday 11/21 skiers at Bridger noted: "...some activity (D1-D2) isolated to the new snow around rock features and ridgetops that were wind-affected..." Photo: G. Antonioli

From obs.: "I went skiing at Bridger today,... There was 4-5” of new snow, which was sitting on a firm surface. The wind had done some work, and I was able to break off a few shallow (6”) wind slabs in the first 100 feet or so off the ridge." Photo: A. Schauer

As of 11/20/19 The mountains near Lionhead Ridge outside of West Yellowstone have thin snow cover. The snowpack is shallow (6-18"), and mostly weak and faceted. This will make dangerous avalanche conditions when it snows more. Photo: GNFAC

We skied into Lionhead Ridge on Wednesday, November 20th. The snowpack was shallow (6-18"), and mostly weak and faceted. This will make dangerous avalanche conditions when it snows more. Photo: GNFAC

A skier on Saturday (11/16) took the time to dig a quick pit about 200' below east ridge of Mt Blackmore. He found about 2.5 feet of snow with a few crust layers. Photo: K. Stewart

From obs: "Went for a tour up to Hyalite Basin. No recent sightings of avalanche activity in the basin. There was substantial wind effect on East aspects at 9,000 feet including a dense 3 inch wind layer that was present up to the saddle, which did not propagate in our ECT. We observed a crust layer on south aspects at 7,000 which likely formed before the most recent snow." Photo: Tommy Saulnier

This wet loose avalanche was on a west-southwest aspect in Beehive Basin. It broke to the ground (only 30 cm deep) but shows how a few hours of sun with above freezing temperatures can create wet slides, even in November! Photo: McKinley Talty

These feathery surface hoar crystals were buried under 5" of snow last night up Hyalite. These weak grains may become a problem with additional load. Phoro: B. VandenBos

"Lots of cracking up there this morning on fresh, mid elevation wind slabs"

Photo: B. Nobel

"While skinning up to the top of Powder Park lift at Bridger, we had roughly 15' cracks propagate on an E/SE aspect. A snowpit showed roughly 8" of wind slab above a few inches of facets, on top of last week's rain crust." November 11, 2019.

Photo: G. Lawrence

From obs.: "A widespread rain crust left the whole [Beehive] basin glazed like a Krispy Kreme donut to ~1000'. The consistently breakable crust thinned with elevation yet ensured lack-luster skiing conditions throughout the entire basin. Light winds [and] increasing cloud cover... worked together to keep solar input at bay and minimized the break-down or softening of the surface crust. Noted 2 small (D.5 - R1) old natural WL avalanches on due south aspects at ~10,100' probably triggered from cliff bands during the warm up last week...." Photo: Zachary Miller

On November 8th, skiers found weak facets and surface hoar had formed during prior cold and dry weather. Keep an eye out for these weak layers if they get buried. Photo: B. VandenBos

On November 8th, skiers found weak facets and surface hoar had formed during prior cold and dry weather. Keep an eye out for these weak layers if they get buried. Photo: B. VandenBos

Snowmobile Field Session at the ASMSU Introduction to Avalanches Class. Photo: GNFAC

Skiers in the Taylor Fork observed faceting, or weakening of the snow, at the base snowpack in the Taylor Fork. Photo: B. VandenBos

Wind scoured down to the melt-freeze crust in the Taylor Fork. Photo: B. VandenBos

Wind was working hard, digging down to, picking up, and transporting dirt in the Taylor Fork. Photo: B. VandenBos