Bridger Range

Winds in the Frazier Basin zone were stronger than expected with moderate to strong gusts at the ridge, increasing through the day. 
 

Light flurries <S1 through the morning increasing to S1 by the time of our exit. Tough to gauge accumulation due to the wind but would guess 2-3cm total through the day. New snow from yesterday and today is generally not well bonded to the underlying surfaces which range from windboard, supportable crusts, and old wind slabs depending on aspect/wind exposure, and this made for challenging uphill travel at times. 
 

We noticed two large windslab pockets that had released since yesterday’s snow. One at the base of Hardscrabble Peak on a N aspect, the other in one of the SE facing gullies that access the Peak 9299/Hollywood Headwall ridge (see photo). 

Toured into Texas Meadows this morning. No avalanche activity seen, no cracking or collapsing. Northern aspects and higher elevations holding better snow, without a wind or sun crust.

Rode into Fairy Lake and skinned up the east shoulder of Naya Nuki. Winds went from strong to extreme out of the south in the early afternoon and were absolutely hammering. Despite the crazy winds, there was really no snow left to transport, so there was no active windloading. Wind surfaces were highly variable, from sastrugi to windboard to meltfreeze crusts to protected powder in the trees.

Saw no signs of instability or recent slab avalanches. We did see a good bit of wet loose activity that likely happened a couple days ago.

Mountain goat hanging out in Wolverine Bowl

Toured onto the west side into Jones Creek and then down Wolverine Bowl. Found lots of crusty snow, wind scoured snow, hard wind drifts, and even some warm, dry powder. No near surface facets which is a good thing for future stabilty.

Skier triggered wind slab on Northeast slope at 7,450 feet elevation. One skier was caught and carried roughly 10 feet before the slide came to a stop.