Big Sky ski patrol triggered these slides with explosives on 11/22 during routine avalanche mitigation work. The avalanches were hard slabs that averaged 12" deep and broke on a weak layer above a crust on top of snow that fell in October. Photo: BSSP
First tour out in Hyalite today and thought I'd share some quick data I gathered from the Lick Creek saddle.
50-60cm of snow out there with hardly any wind effect on it.
The quick pit I dug was:
0-25cm F 1-1.5mm faceting rounds
25-27 1F solar crust (easily broken)
27-43 4F 1mm rounds
43-55 F new snow
Cheers!
Observer reported "A number of Avalanche Crowns on an east aspect at 9500 ft." in Tepee Basin.
An observer reported "A number of Avalanche Crowns on an east aspect at 9500 ft." in Tepee Basin
From obs: "Skied Hyalite Peak today and found a wind slab ~10cm deep. Ski cut a small cornice below the main face and broke a small slide that carried ~20’ with little energy with a ~25’ wide crown" Photo: C. Crowe
An observer saw evidence of wind loading creating the conditions for avalanches in the Bridger Range on Sunday. Cracking is an indicator of instability. The observer noted that the relatively small drift he saw was "nothing consequential," but this shows that unstable drifts are forming. They will be more consequential where there is more snow and as the wind creates larger drifts.
Evidence of wind-loading creating the conditions for avalanches in the Bridger Range. Cracking is an indicator of instability. The observer noted this was "Nothing consequential," but this shows that unstable drifts are forming. They will be more consequential where there is more snow and as the wind creates larger drifts. Photo: E Smith
Temperatures to mid 90s F expected for the next week. We may see the season's first snowfall as early as 3-4 weeks. There is minimal snow remaining at the highest elevations. Avalanche danger seems low.
Photos from August 6, inversion on Clarks Fork and August 16, Mountain Goats on BT Pass (2022).
Really warm and crackly.
From 5/21/22: "Triggered a small slide underneath the cornice of the southeast chute off of Emigrant peak. The slide was 50 ft wide, 4 inches deep, and ran for about 100 ft. The slide was not large enough to knock you off your feet (D1). The latest storm had deposited about 12 inches of new snow underneath the cornice." Photo: C. Chupik
