GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Mar 10, 2013
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
The days are getting longer and the sun is getting stronger. Is this spring like pattern helping overall stability? The answer is – not really.
Old crowns were visible on this wind loaded slope. Slopes of this nature will be probable areas for humans to trigger avalanches. Photo GNFAC
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Mar 10, 2013
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Sat Mar 9, 2013
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
I've recently been asked - where are human triggered avalanches most likely? This is a tricky question - and there is more than one answer.
Large cornices are breaking farther back than one might expect. Staying well back from corniced ridgelines is a good idea this time of year. Photo Tisza Bell
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Sat Mar 9, 2013
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Mar 8, 2013
Bridger Range Madison Range Gallatin Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
This monster cornice broke between the legs of a skier who thought he was far from the edge. Note the small tree next to the fracture. For some odd reason part of the cornice remained in place. The rest of the cornice tumbled down the slope and triggered an avalanche. Photo: B. Carpenter
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Thu Mar 7, 2013
Bridger Range Southern Madison Range
Southern Gallatin Range Lionhead area near West Yellowstone
Cooke City
In most parts of the advisory area, snowfall since yesterday contained 0.5 – 0.8 inches of water. This snow arrived with strong SW winds which have transported the new snow. New snow + wind = fresh wind slabs. Skiers and riders can certainly trigger these fresh wind slabs today.