Southern Madison

Persistent slab avalanche from (3/19) in Sunlight Basin, Taylor Fork. Photo: Anonymous

From FB message. Today (3/19) in Taylor Fork

We rode into Tepee Basin and to the north wilderness boundary. There was 1.5-2 feet of new snow that fell since Thursday. We dug (3) snowpits on northeast, north and southeast slopes, between 8800'-9200'. The pits on northerly slopes had ECTP 17 and 22 on a thin weak layer below the new snow. We also had ECTP 6 within the storm snow. Photo: GNFAC

We rode into Tepee Basin and to the north wilderness boundary. It was snowing all day with moderate winds and some strong gusts in more open areas. We could only slightly see the bottom of some avalanche path, but did not see any signs of avalanches (there could have been some higher up in terrain obscured by clouds.)

There was 1.5-2 feet of new snow that fell since Thursday. We dug (3) snowpits on northeast, north and southeast slopes, between 8800'-9200'. The pits on northerly slopes had ECTP 17 and 22 on a thin weak layer below the new snow. We also had ECTP 6 within the storm snow.

There was minimal cracking across the surface in the new snow, but plenty of signs of fresh drifts. It felt likely you would easily trigger storm slab or wind slab avalanches on steep slopes.

On March 15 We looked at the avalanche in Sunlight Basin/Taylor Fork that was triggered by a snowmobiler yesterday (Mar 14). It was 50' wide, 100' vertical, 2-3' deep hard slab with 8-9" new snow on top. Broke on weak facets buried in late January. Dirt layer from Feb 4 was visible 6-8" above weak layer. Bed surface was 3" to 1.5' deep of weak, sugary facets. Slope angle was 38-40+ degrees. 8800', WNW aspect. Photo: GNFAC

On March 15 We looked at the avalanche in Sunlight Basin/Taylor Fork that was triggered by a snowmobiler yesterday (Mar 14). It was 50' wide, 100' vertical, 2-3' deep hard slab with 8-9" new snow on top. Broke on weak facets buried in late January. Dirt layer from Feb 4 was visible 6-8" above weak layer. Bed surface was 3" to 1.5' deep of weak, sugary facets. Slope angle was 38-40+ degrees. 8800', WNW aspect. Photo: GNFAC

On March 15 We looked at the avalanche in Sunlight Basin/Taylor Fork that was triggered by a snowmobiler yesterday (Mar 14). It was 50' wide, 100' vertical, 2-3' deep hard slab with 8-9" new snow on top. Broke on weak facets buried in late January. Dirt layer from Feb 4 was visible 6-8" above weak layer. Bed surface was 3" to 1.5' deep of weak, sugary facets. Slope angle was 38-40+ degrees. 8800', WNW aspect. Photo: GNFAC

On March 15 We looked at the avalanche in Sunlight Basin/Taylor Fork that was triggered by a snowmobiler yesterday (Mar 14). It was 50' wide, 100' vertical, 2-3' deep hard slab with 8-9" new snow on top. Broke on weak facets buried in late January. Dirt layer from Feb 4 was visible 6-8" above weak layer. Bed surface was 3" to 1.5' deep of weak, sugary facets. Slope angle was 38-40+ degrees. 8800', WNW aspect. Photo: GNFAC

On March 15 We looked at the avalanche in Sunlight Basin/Taylor Fork that was triggered by a snowmobiler yesterday (Mar 14). It was 50' wide, 100' vertical, 2-3' deep hard slab with 8-9" new snow on top. Broke on weak facets buried in late January. Dirt layer from Feb 4 was visible 6-8" above weak layer. Bed surface was 3" to 1.5' deep of weak, sugary facets. Slope angle was 38-40+ degrees. 8800', WNW aspect. Photo: GNFAC