A natural storm slab avalanche in 3rd Yellowmule (~100 ft wide and ran ~200 vertical ft). Broke either 12/16 or early morning 12/17. Photo taken 12/17/24. Photo: GNFAC
A natural storm slab avalanche on the far (southwest) side of Buck Creek - broke 2-300 ft wide and ran ~500 vertical feet. Photo taken 12/17/24. Photo: GNFAC
Looking down the gully at part of the remotely triggered avalanche in Bear Creek. Triggered on 12/17/24. Photo: GNFAC
Looking across the gully at part the remotely triggered avalanche in Bear Creek. Triggered on 12/17/24. Photo: GNFAC
Part of the crown of the remotely triggered avalanche in Bear Creek. Triggered on 12/17/24. Photo: GNFAC
Rode along Buck Ridge, through 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Yellowmules, with good views across Buck Creek and into McAtee Basin. New snow depth increased as we rode from the parking lot to the top of Beaver Creek, from ~4" to 12". We measured 12" of new snow with 0.7" SWE in 1st Yellowmule. We saw two avalanches. One was a storm slab avalanche on the far (southwest) side of Buck Creek - broke 2-300 ft wide and ran ~500 vertical feet. The other was a smaller slide in 3rd Yellowmule (~100 ft wide and ran ~200 vertical ft). There was not much wind effect.
We crossed through the head of McAtee Basin into upper Bear Creek. While riding on a low angle ridgeline, we remotely triggered a slide that broke approximately 200 ft away in a gully. It failed ~18" deep on facets underneath the snow that has accumulated since Sunday. It broke in several pockets, totaling around 200 ft wide. There was 12" of new snow at the crown, with 0.7" SWE. The slab contained 1.4" SWE total (which accumulated since Sunday).
Before triggering the slide we experienced no cracking, collapsing, or other clear signs of instability.
From IG: On 12/15 "Storm slab broke about 200’ above us as skinning up the hallway coming from the north side on the throne." Photo: Anonymous
from @brendan_durrum_photo
Skied into middle basin from Beehive this morning and found 8-12 inches of unconsolidated snow on top of a sun crust. While skinning back up to the Beehive/Middle ridge we remotely triggered 12 inches of storm snow on a SE facing gully from 15 ft away, the crown was ~50 ft long. ~8,200 ft.
Winds increased throughout the morning, actively loading E aspects.
