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.
Bridger Range
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.
small loose snow slides N. Bridgers
The Throne
Bridger Range
Code
L-N-R1-D1-S
Elevation
8500
Aspect
S
Latitude
45.88220
Longitude
-110.95200
Notes
The new snow was low density and sluffed easily on steep shady northerlies. On steep slopes facing the sun (south and east, and probably west) the new snow sat on a crust and became moist as the sun warmed it up and started to slide under skis. We saw a couple very small natural loose snow slides below rock outcrops on south facing slopes. Air temperatures were well below freezing, especially with wind chill, but the sun quickly warmed the recent new snow.
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Loose-snow avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Bed Surface
S - Avalanche released within new snow
Problem Type
Loose Dry
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year
Fresh reactive wind slabs N. Bridgers
The Throne
Bridger Range
Code
SS-ASc-R1-D1-S
Elevation
8300
Aspect
SE
Latitude
45.88220
Longitude
-110.95200
Notes
There was 6" of low density snow from yesterday. Winds were stronger than expected, from the north at the top of the Throne, and increased through the morning.
We found fresh drifts that were reactive, cracking easily and 5-10' wide out from our skis, on south and east facing slopes around 8000-8300'.
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
c-A controlled or intentional release by the indicated trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Bed Surface
S - Avalanche released within new snow
Problem Type
Wind Slab
Slab Thickness
10.0 inches
Vertical Fall
100ft
Slab Width
10.00ft
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
Wind Slab Avalanche in Frazier Basin
Date
Activity
Skiing
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.
Region
Bridger Range
Location (from list)
Frazier Basin
Observer Name
R. Bechtold
Wind Loading in Ainger Lake Basin
Date
Activity
Snowboarding
Toured into Ainger Lake Basin in the Northern Bridgers today. From the Shafthouse Trailhead we could see debris from past wet snow avalanches coming from Ainger Peak and Hard Scrabble Peak area. The slide in Ainger Lake Basin must have been at least a few days old as the slide path and debris were covered in new snow from the last snowfall. The evidence of multiple slides we saw in Ainger Basin looked like they came from rocks shedding snow in the warm weather we've been having. Our objective was the middle couloir on Ainger Headwall. It was very windy in the basin. The slope above Ainger Lake Basin that we had to cross to get to the couloir was heavily wind loaded. We toured up and the snow felt stable so I decided to slowly skin out to see how the snow on this slope felt. It quickly became hollow sounding and we turned around and got a couple laps in for the day from there. Up high in the basin sun baked slopes that froze over night were very slick and hard with a couple inches of new snow on top making skinning difficult in places as well.
Region
Bridger Range
Location (from list)
Frazier Basin
Observer Name
Connor Culver
Mar 7 obs: "...There was 6" of low density snow from yesterday. Winds were stronger than expected, from the north at the top of the Throne, and increased through the morning.... We found fresh drifts that were reactive, cracking easily and 5-10' wide out from our skis, on south and east facing slopes around 8000-8300'." Photo: GNFAC
Avalanche Details: Fresh reactive wind slabs N. Bridgers
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Mar 9, 2025
Bridger Range, 2025-03-07
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Mar 9, 2025
Mar 7 obs: "...There was 6" of low density snow from yesterday. Winds were stronger than expected, from the north at the top of the Throne, and increased through the morning.... We found fresh drifts that were reactive, cracking easily and 5-10' wide out from our skis, on south and east facing slopes around 8000-8300'." Photo: GNFAC
Avalanche Details: Fresh reactive wind slabs N. Bridgers
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Mar 8, 2025GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Mar 9, 2025
Bridger Range, 2025-03-07
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Mar 8, 2025GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Mar 9, 2025
Mar 7 obs: "...There was 6" of low density snow from yesterday. Winds were stronger than expected, from the north at the top of the Throne, and increased through the morning.... We found fresh drifts that were reactive, cracking easily and 5-10' wide out from our skis, on south and east facing slopes around 8000-8300'." Photo: GNFAC