On 5/4/24 “…. a friend toured around Wolverine today. On his way out he heard a slide breaking trees (just before noon). Unknown location but he said it sounded like it was around/ above Texas Meadows. The action continues!”
From obs.: “Our party (3) triggered a significant wet loose slide on the fin today. I, the first skier dropped in next to existing tracks from earlier in the morning. I made a couple of small turns in unskied snow to test it and decided that not much was moving. As I continued down the wet surface snow started to slide and accumulate. My partner called me on the radio to tell me a lot of snow was moving behind me and I cut left. I traversed hard to lower angle terrain until I felt I could safely descend the rest of the slope. My partners descended the bed surface until they could traverse out.
We made several key mistakes today. We knew it would be warm and that we should be up and down early. We left later than planned, moved slower than expected and failed to adjust our plan. We mistook lack of wet loose activity on similar aspects and elevations on features we could see as sign of stability. We failed to make a plan B or establish a turnaround time. We interpreted a party ahead of us that skied the slope as a go ahead. Another party approaching behind us added pressure to go. They also skied the slope after us in similar style to my partners.
In our favor, we communicated well, radios were key, stayed calm and we managed ourselves through the situation. I feel humbled and lucky to have gotten away with a free lesson. One that I didn't think I should have needed.”
On 5/4/24 Skiers triggered large wet loose slides on the Fin near Cooke City
Toured up to Bradley's Meadow, and found about 6 inches of moderate density snow sitting on a thin M/F crust with wet snow underneath the pack.
Snow seemed well bonded and did not see any natural slides up on ridge. Not much sun was out, and it was snowing until 12 p.m.
from obs. 4/25/24: "Came across a relatively large wet avalanche when approaching Texas meadows from Bradley’s meadows. Elevation around 7600ft, aspect, SSE. Depth: to ground.
Considering the new snow on top of the debris, I’m guessing this slid prior to the storm last week. The slide path was melted out to dirt. Out of curiosity, we dug just to the lookers right of the slide and found soft snow near the ground - still evidence of crystal structure but could make a snowball if squeezed. Best guess is that a point release wet slide entrained enough snow to step down and release the whole face."
From obs 4/25/24: "Came across a relatively large wet avalanche when approaching Texas meadows from Bradley’s meadows. Elevation around 7600ft, aspect, SSE. Depth: to ground. Considering the new snow on top of the debris, I’m guessing this slid prior to the storm last week. The slide path was melted out to dirt. Out of curiosity, we dug just to the lookers right of the slide and found soft snow near the ground - still evidence of crystal structure but could make a snowball if squeezed.
From obs 4/25/24: "Came across a relatively large wet avalanche when approaching Texas meadows from Bradley’s meadows. Elevation around 7600ft, aspect, SSE. Depth: to ground. Considering the new snow on top of the debris, I’m guessing this slid prior to the storm last week. The slide path was melted out to dirt. Out of curiosity, we dug just to the lookers right of the slide and found soft snow near the ground - still evidence of crystal structure but could make a snowball if squeezed.
Came across a relatively large wet avalanche when approaching Texas meadows from Bradley’s meadows. Elevation around 7600ft, aspect, SSE. Depth: to ground.
Considering the new snow on top of the debris, I’m guessing this slid prior to the storm last week. The slide path was melted out to dirt. Out of curiosity, we dug just to the lookers right of the slide and found soft snow near the ground - still evidence of crystal structure but could make a snowball if squeezed. Best guess is that a point release wet slide entrained enough snow to step down and release the whole face.
From obs: "Skied the Banana Coulior off Ross today (04/18). 6-8" of fresh, dry snow has fallen and lies above a bomber crust that was observed on all aspects we traveled on. The weak interface between new, dry snow and the pervasive crust allowed for a large sluff, or dry-loose slide, that began near the top of the Banana Coulior and ran for ~ 500'"
Skied the Banana Coulior off Ross today. 6-8" of fresh, dry snow has fallen and lies above a bomber crust that was observed on all aspects we traveled on. The weak interface between new, dry snow and the pervasive crust allowed for a large sluff, or dry-loose slide, that began near the top of the Banana Coulior and ran for ~ 500'
