Photos

Natural avalanche spotted from the air on Red Mountain, just west of Ernest Miller Ridge

Surface hoar was on the snow surface today. It likely wont' survive to be buried. Sunshine on south aspects was already destroying it.

Snowpit and ECT result from small slope just above Beehive Creek at 8200 ft. 

Facets in thinner snowpack areas are larger, weaker, and could possibly cause an avalnache

Snowpit from the top of Tyler's slope in Beehive Basin, W facing, 9200 ft. This is representative of an area with thin snow that is weaker

On Tuesday, January 19, 2016, a Yellowstone Club (YC) Ski Patroller triggered an avalanche on a wind-loaded slope which released on his second turn. The slide broke 2-4 feet deep, 300 feet wide and carried him through a terrain trap of thick trees. He was partially buried 300 vertical feet below in the toe of the debris. His partners reached him within three minutes, but the trauma was fatal.

The YCSP created a non-profit to remember their colleague and friend, Darren Johnson. And, to support ski patrollers across the country by providing scholarships for avalanche education and attendance at the National Avalanche School. 

USFS Snow rangers commuting to and from West Yellowstone noticed a human-triggered avalanche across the Gallatin River from Bacon Rind. Photo: K. Marvinney

USFS Snow rangers commuting to and from West Yellowstone noticed a human-triggered avalanche across the Gallatin River from Bacon Rind. Photo: K. Marvinney

On 1/12 observed a D .5 soft slab near Long Lake above the snowmobile trail. Also saw some small dry loose activity on E facing terrain in Zimmer Creek. Photo: BPG

Woody Ridge north of the "KNBs." Northwest facing slope, crown elevation approx 9600'. Ran 1000 to 1200'. Photo: N Gaddy

Woody Ridge north of the "KNBs." Northwest facing slope, crown elevation approx 9600'. Ran 1000 to 1200'. Unsure of when it went, we did not notice it this morning only this afternoon on the hike out. Photo: N Gaddy

We saw a large avalanche (SS-R3-D2-O) that broke on a north facing aspect, around 2' deep, on weak snow near the ground. Photo: GNFAC

We saw a large avalanche (SS-R3-D2-O) that broke on a north facing aspect, around 2' deep, on weak snow near the ground. Photo: GNFAC

Observed a large avalanche on a west facing slope approx 10000ft, with a higher crown at 10200'. Crown depth 4-6'. HS-Ns-D2-R2-O . Ran 1000ft and into terrain I had previously considered safe. Photo: N Gaddy

Observed a large avalanche on a west facing slope approx 10000ft, with a higher crown at 10200'. Crown depth 4-6'. HS-Ns-D2-R2-O . Ran 1000ft and into terrain I had previously considered safe. Photo: N Gaddy

Observed a large avalanche on a west facing slope approx 10000ft, with a higher crown at 10200'. Crown depth 4-6'. HS-Ns-D2-R2-O . Ran 1000ft and into terrain I had previously considered safe. Photo: N Gaddy

Observed a large avalanche on a west facing slope approx 10000ft, with a higher crown at 10200'. Crown depth 4-6'. HS-Ns-D2-R2-O . Ran 1000ft and into terrain I had previously considered safe. Photo: N Gaddy

We dug a pit on an East facing aspect below the slope we had planned to ride. The height of snow was about 110 cm and there was a very concerning layer of large facets at 75cm deep going to the ground.  Photo: C Culver

Our results were CT17 SPQ2 and ECTP26 SCQ1. Bother failures during tests were on the layer of facets and on the CT and ECT our columns easily separated from the facet layer after failure. Photo: C Culver 

On Jan 12, we saw 4-5 avalanche crowns that were up to a week old, some had been reported and a few we had not heard of. Two were ~2' deep on less wind affected slopes lower down in the trees, but probably had some previous wind-loading. Photo: GNFAC