Noticed a small 8-10” wind slab pocket on the way in, looked like storm load but could have been sled triggered from the top. Photo: Anonymous
Northern Madison
Small avalanche in Buck
Small avalanche NE aspect near top of beaver. D1 natural trigger wind slab. Only observed avalanche from groomer trail. Photo: Z Bailey
Buck Ridge Dec 31st, 2024
Did the tour de Yellow Mules and today and found some amazing pockets of riding. Tricky riding the wind blow snow though, the snow would be supportable to the slab/old snow, but found some pockets where you’d break through and submarine into the facets at the bottom. Ski tugs got us out.
The wind had definitely been moving things around, signs of decent loading and some avy activity today, kind of where I thought we’d find some action. See attached photos. Noticed a small 8-10” wind slab pocket on the way in, looked like storm load but could have been sled triggered from the top. Found a bigger pocket that had pulled out on steeper terrain in the 1st Yellow Mule no tracks around since we were the first in there. Both were N to NE facing which we had flagged for ourselves due to the wind direction during a post storm. We were suspect of the east side of the compass from north to south.
We chose to play in the flats today, kept slope angles low, and stayed out from under avy terrain - Still had a blast. Didn’t dig today (sorry), but storm totals listed seem pretty accurate. Honestly, I expected a bit more action today, but I got enough info from those two spots to be pretty conservative.
Small avalanche in Buck
Small avalanche NE aspect near top of beaver. D1 natural trigger wind slab. Only observed avalanche from groomer trail.
It only took 20 minutes of skinning before we triggered a small avalanche in a terrain trap from a flat bench above. This slide (R3 D1) broke 150' wide, about a foot deep, and filled the creek bed below. Photo: GNFAC
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Tue Dec 31, 2024
It only took 20 minutes of skinning before we triggered a small avalanche in a terrain trap from a flat bench above. This slide (R3 D1) broke 150' wide, about a foot deep, and filled the creek bed below. Photo: GNFAC
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Tue Dec 31, 2024
It only took 20 minutes of skinning before we triggered a small avalanche in a terrain trap from a flat bench above. This slide (R3 D1) broke 150' wide, about a foot deep, and filled the creek bed below. Photo: GNFAC
Avalanche in Beehive Basin
We triggered a small avalanche in a terrain trap from a flat bench above in Beehive Basin. This slide (R3 D1) broke 150' wide, about a foot deep, and filled the creek bed below.