GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Jan 31, 2025
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanche conditions are generally safe today. Still, there are some things to watch out for. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The first thing to watch out for is old wind drifts. Mostly these will be well bonded after a week of warm temperatures, but be alert in case you find someplace where they aren’t. A report yesterday of a recent </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slab avalanche</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> on Woodward Mtn. that broke 1-2 ft deep and 250 ft wide shows that we can’t totally write off the possibility of triggering one of these slides (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33914"><span><span><span><span><span><…;).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Wet snow concerns will be minimal today with generally a good refreeze overnight and clouds keeping melting in check today. But, there are places where the air temperatures stayed above freezing overnight so watch out for </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wet Loose avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> if you find a snowpack that hasn’t entirely refrozen (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/25/point-release-avalanche-south-slo… of Wet Looses yesterday</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Snowfall will begin this afternoon. We don’t expect much to accumulate before nightfall, but if it comes in early and heavier than expected - watch out for newly forming drifts. The new snow will fall onto a variety of old snow surfaces, including some very weak snow, so even thin drifts may be quite reactive (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/SqfcVtQ4uxY?feature=shared"><span><span><span><span><s… video</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>With snow and strong winds expected through the weekend and into next week, expect the avalanche danger to rise. The more it snows and blows, the more rapidly the danger will rise.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>For today, the avalanche danger is LOW.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
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Wind Slab avalanche on Woodward Mtn.
Wind slab avalanche on Woodward Mountain, observed on 1/30. Avalanche appeared recent but date of slide is estimated.
From email: "Today I drove down Taylor fork road, with the thought of potentially getting up on woodward mtn, until I saw a crown on the NE
Face of its northern summit, basically wall to wall near the top of the slide path. There were a couple other sled tracks that also went to the end of the road, so I figured maybe it was pretty recent, as I didn’t hear about it in the advisory. Concerning because it appears to have propagated maybe 250ft across, while maybe only 1-2 ft deep"
From email: "Today I drove down Taylor fork road, with the thought of potentially getting up on woodward mtn, until I saw a crown on the NE
Face of its northern summit, basically wall to wall near the top of the slide path. There were a couple other sled tracks that also went to the end of the road, so I figured maybe it was pretty recent, as I didn’t hear about it in the advisory. Concerning because it appears to have propagated maybe 250ft across, while maybe only 1-2 ft deep". Photo taken on 1/30/25. Photo: T. Grande
Two Point release avalanches on south slope of Two Top. 1/30/25. Photo: K. Allred
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Jan 31, 2025GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Feb 2, 2025
Point releases onTwo Top
Two Point release avalanches seen on the south slopes of Two Top on 1/30/25.
Avalanche on Woodward
From email: "Today I drove down Taylor fork road, with the thought of potentially getting up on woodward mtn, until I saw a crown on the NE
Face of its northern summit, basically wall to wall near the top of the slide path. There were a couple other sled tracks that also went to the end of the road, so I figured maybe it was pretty recent, as I didn’t hear about it in the advisory. Concerning because it appears to have propagated maybe 250ft across, while maybe only 1-2 ft deep"
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