Photos

On Jan 30 we spotted several loose wet avalanches that occurred yesterday in steep, rocky terrain up Sheep Creek. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan 30 we noted an old, deep persistent slab avalanche on a NW' aspect near the south end of the Republic Creek drainage. This likely broke around a week ago. Photo: GNFAC

We also spotted a small, snowmobile triggered avalanche on a steep, east facing slope in Muddy Creek.  Photo: USFS Snow Rangers 

Saw this cool illustration of wind deposition, scouring and unaffected snow on a ridge line near the top of Bear Creek at the far end of Buck Ridge. Photo: USFS Snow Rangers 

Photo: M R

Wide spread layer of Surface Hoar mid and upper elevations Two Top area

The surface evolved throughout the day, so we must continue tracking its progression. We found surface hoar in the valley of Beehive, where inverted temperatures were the coldest, crusts with near-surface facets below, and some straight near-surface facet—recycled powder, along with thicker crust and wet snow. Photo: GNFAC

The surface evolved throughout the day, so we must continue tracking its progression. We found surface hoar in the valley of Beehive, where inverted temperatures were the coldest, crusts with near-surface facets below, and some straight near-surface facet—recycled powder, along with thicker crust and wet snow. Photo: GNFAC

Large surface hoar across a variety of elevations and aspects at Lick Creek. It was 2-5mm large and present on almost all flats and non-solar aspects. Photo: W Hubbard 

Recent avalanches noted on the NE-E aprons on cedar mountain. SS-N-R2-3-D2-I These appeared to have possibly happened during the last storm cycle and looked to be isolated to layers within the new old snow interface. I also noted similar activity on the same aspects on the adjacent ridge during our approach.  

Recent avalanches noted on the NE-E aprons on cedar mountain. SS-N-R2-3-D2-I These appeared to have possibly happened during the last storm cycle and looked to be isolated to layers within the new old snow interface. I also noted similar activity on the same aspects on the adjacent ridge during our approach.  

Crown of a wind slab avalanche from the saddle of Blackmore. Photo: Anonymous

I skied forward maybe 5 feet and broke off a wind slab around 20 feet wide and five feet below me. Shifting my weight right after that the snow below me also broke and slid away. Photo: Anonymous

I broke off a wind slab around 20 feet wide and five feet below me. Shifting my weight right after that the snow below me also broke and slid away. Photo: Anonymous

A wind slab avalanche on east facing slope in hyalite. Photo: D Moeser

On Jan 27 we saw  a cornice fall on a very big steep slope up Republic Creek which did not trigger anything large or deeper, but entrained some snow and ran over a thousand feet vertical. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan 27 We saw one old, but very large persistent slab avalanche further up Republic Creek (pictured). It was on similar aspect and elevation as a somewhat more recent persistent slab in nearby Hayden Creek, North-northeast, 10,000'. It appeared to be 6'+ deep and 500'+ wide. The bed surface and crown had been partially drifted in, so it seemed it was probably at least a week old...? Photo: GNFAC

In the Playground area of the Bridger Range, strong winds rapidly built wind slabs up to 25 cm deep around treeline. Skiers experienced a few cracks in this wind slab, propagating 2 or 3 meters from our ski tips. Photo: N. deLeeuw

Skiers triggered a small wind slab avalanche while skinning near the top of Pair Of Chutes in the Playground. The slab was about 1 foot thick, fist hardness, propagated 20 feet wide and ran 50 feet before breaking up and arresting. Photo: J. Taylor

On January 26 we saw a handful (4-6?) of old wind slab avalanches of various ages. The most recent and largest appearing, but still not very fresh, was on the north side of Scotch Bonnet (attached photo). Most were D1-D1.5, the slide pictured was D1.5-2. Photo: GNFAC