On Sawtelle Peak, Island Park, when the clouds lifted we could see a crown of a snowmobiler triggered slide that occurred yesterday. It broke on the buried surface hoar and facets about 1.5 feet under the surface. Recent snow and wind-loading has created dangerous avalanche conditions. Photo: GNFAC
We dug pits and rode on Sawtelle Peak. At 9,100 feet we had unstable test results (ECTP13 x 5; ECTP10 x2; CT4, Q1). When the clouds lifted we could see a crown of a snowmobiler triggered slide that occured yesterday. It broke on the buried surface hoar and facets about 1.5 feet under the surface. Recent snow and wind-loading has created dangerous avalanche conditions.
The avalanche:
From facebook message: "Multiple remote triggers across this slope."
Up Targhee Creek, near Lionhead Ridge. 1/18/24
From facebook message: "Multiple remote triggers across this slope."
Up Targhee Creek, near Lionhead Ridge. 1/18/24 Photo: R. Schlueter.
From facebook message: "Multiple remote triggers across this slope."
Up Targhee Creek, near Lionhead Ridge. 1/18/24 Photo: R. Schlueter.
From facebook message: "Multiple remote triggers across this slope."
Up Targhee Creek, near Lionhead Ridge. 1/18/24 Photo: R. Schlueter.
From facebook message: "Multiple remote triggers across this slope."
Up Targhee Creek, near Lionhead Ridge. 1/18/24
From FB: Taylor’s Fork today, 8-10 inches of new snow last night. A few small slides but tons of cracking.
Rode up Denny Creek and out along Lionhead Ridge through Watkins Creek to the divide with Targhee Creek. Saw evidence of numerous older avalanches along the ridgeline and in lower steep meadows that likely broke last week (1/10-1/11). The crowns of these slides were blown in, but would estimate they generally broke 1-2 ft deep. Some broke quite wide ~1000 ft. Saw a couple smaller slides that looked to be a bit fresher as well.
Got a number of collapses and shooting cracks as we rode today, shooting out 20+ ft.
Stopped and dug a pit at the crown of an avalanche that broke on the north end of ski hill (likely during last weeks warning). Broke ~1 ft deep, 50 ft wide and ran 100 vertical. Another similar slide broke at the same time on the south end of ski hill. Today, we got an ECTP12 on the surface hoar about a foot deep.
The snowpack remains unstable and human triggered avalanches (including remote triggers from a distance) remain likely. Expect the danger to rise as it snows over the next couple days.
