Bridger Range

Natural storm slab at Brackett Creek

Date
Activity
Skiing

Saw a small recent looking storm slab avalanche that appeared to be naturally triggered above the road on a south facing slope around 6000'.  It ran all the way across the slope ~30' wide and  ~4" deep within the recent snow.  The snow didn't move far enough to reach the road.  The slope was quite steep-- we didn't measure but I'd estimate 40*.

We also had localized cracking around our skis with planar breaks on that interface throughout the day, as well as a shooting crack when a member of our group jumped on a south facing test slope.  On our way back down we saw an even smaller (~10' across) avalanche on a SW facing creek bank that appeared to be triggered by another party as a test slope.  Both of these test slopes were steep and we had no results on two other, less steep slopes.

Region
Bridger Range
Location (from list)
Brackett Creek
Observer Name
Heather Myers

Small Storm Snow Avalanches in Brackett Creek

Ross Peak
Bridger Range
Code
SS-N-R1-D1
Elevation
6000
Aspect
S
Latitude
45.86010
Longitude
-110.94900
Notes

From obs: "Toured up to the low angle meadows on the NE shoulder of Ross Peak. Dug a 8000ft and found no action in an extended column test but a significant result in a propagation saw test (PST END 20/100) at about 90 cm down. Some recent small avalanches in steep terrain along Brackett Creek that broke naturally within the storm snow from 1/3."

 

From obs: "Saw a small recent looking storm slab avalanche that appeared to be naturally triggered above the road on a south facing slope around 6000'.  It ran all the way across the slope ~30' wide and  ~4" deep within the recent snow.  The snow didn't move far enough to reach the road.  The slope was quite steep-- we didn't measure but I'd estimate 40*.

We also had localized cracking around our skis with planar breaks on that interface throughout the day, as well as a shooting crack when a member of our group jumped on a south facing test slope.  On our way back down we saw an even smaller (~10' across) avalanche on a SW facing creek bank that appeared to be triggered by another party as a test slope.  Both of these test slopes were steep and we had no results on two other, less steep slopes."

Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Problem Type
New Snow
Slab Thickness
4.0 inches
Slab Width
30.00ft
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year

Ross Peak Meadows

Date
Activity
Skiing

Toured up to the low angle meadows on the NE shoulder of Ross Peak. Dug a 8000ft and found no action in an extended column test but a significant result in a propagation saw test (PST END 20/100) at about 90 cm down. Some recent small avalanches in steep terrain along Brackett Creek that broke naturally within the storm snow from 1/3. 

Region
Bridger Range
Location (from list)
Ross Peak
Observer Name
Christopher Pruden

Skier triggered large Wind Slab on the Ramp

The Ramp
Bridger Range
Code
HS-ASu-R1-D1-I
Elevation
8500
Aspect
E
Latitude
45.82800
Longitude
-110.93300
Notes

Toured up the ramp this morning, found between 3-6" of new snow on the skin track, winds were fairly strong from the north/northwest and moving snow. Snow was falling heavily for the duration of the tour. As we made our last switchback in the ridge line meadow (8500ft directly east facing) near the top of the ramp, we triggered a wind slab. It propagated about 200 ft wide and was 3 ft at the deepest point. Interestingly on the edges and near the bottom (downhill side) of the slab it was only a few inches deep. It broke on the interface between the wind loaded snow and the light and dry snow we received a few days ago. When we entered the upper meadow there was no evidence of tracks from the day before. Further down the ramp we found cross loaded rolls that produced shooting cracks and collapses, and active snow loading from the new snow and wind. A half hour later on our ski down, the skin track was partially buried by new snow as we exited the area. 

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Hard slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
1
D size
1
Bed Surface
I - Interface between new and old snow
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
24.0 inches
Slab Width
200.00ft
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

We triggered a wind slab. It propagated about 200 ft wide and was 3 ft at the deepest point. Interestingly on the edges and near the bottom (downhill side) of the slab it was only a few inches deep. It broke on the interface between the wind loaded snow and the light and dry snow we received a few days ago. Photo: A Shafer

Bridger Range, 2025-01-04

We triggered a wind slab. It propagated about 200 ft wide and was 3 ft at the deepest point. Interestingly on the edges and near the bottom (downhill side) of the slab it was only a few inches deep. It broke on the interface between the wind loaded snow and the light and dry snow we received a few days ago. Photo: A Shafer

Bridger Range, 2025-01-04

We triggered a wind slab. It propagated about 200 ft wide and was 3 ft at the deepest point. Interestingly on the edges and near the bottom (downhill side) of the slab it was only a few inches deep. It broke on the interface between the wind loaded snow and the light and dry snow we received a few days ago. Photo: A Shafer

Bridger Range, 2025-01-04

Wind Slab in Bridgers

Date
Activity
Skiing

Toured up the ramp this morning, found between 3-6" of new snow on the skin track, winds were fairly strong from the north/northwest and moving snow. Snow was falling heavily for the duration of the tour. As we made our last switchback in the ridge line meadow (8500ft directly east facing) near the top of the ramp, we triggered a wind slab. It propagated about 200 ft wide and was 3 ft at the deepest point. Interestingly on the edges and near the bottom (downhill side) of the slab it was only a few inches deep. It broke on the interface between the wind loaded snow and the light and dry snow we received a few days ago. When we entered the upper meadow there was no evidence of tracks from the day before. Further down the ramp we found cross loaded rolls that produced shooting cracks and collapses, and active snow loading from the new snow and wind. A half hour later on our ski down, the skin track was partially buried by new snow as we exited the area. 

Region
Bridger Range
Location (from list)
The Ramp
Observer Name
Alex Schafer

Little Ellis - Unconsolidated all the way down

Date
Activity
Skiing

Little Ellis now has (barely) enough cover to be skiiable (at least up high - still marginal lower down). Dug a pit on the NE aspect 100 yard NE of the summit. Found unconsolidated snow all the way down to the ground (roughly 36" deep). Negative ECT. 

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
NORTHERN GALLATIN RANGE
Observer Name
Mark Egge