18-19
Snowmobiler triggered on Mt Abundance
Mt. Abundance
Cooke City
Code
SS-AMu-R1-D2-O
Aspect
S
Latitude
45.07900
Longitude
-110.02000
Notes
The avalanche on the south face of Mt Abundance was set off at about 2:00 pm on Thursday. A rider realized he triggered a slide on his way back down the slope. It was estimated to be at least 1+ foot deep, 100 feet wide, and ran 100 feet slope distance. It was big enough to bury a person.
This depth (est. 1+') is similar to the faceted layer that was unstable near Lulu Pass the day before (ECTP22).
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Snowmobile
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
1
D size
2
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness
12.0 inches
Vertical Fall
100ft
Slab Width
100.00ft
Weak Layer Grain type
Near surface faceted particles
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year
The red circle marks the location of my snowpit. There was 3 feet of faceted snow that was stable, but weak. Snowfall and wind will make these paths dangerous. Photo: GNFAC
These wind ripples above Henderson Bench outside Cooke City are a sign that the wind blew hard across this face. Be on the lookout for areas where the wind drifted snow into hard slabs because these spots would be susceptible to sliding. Photo: GNFAC
The snowpack at 9,000' above Hebgen Lake near West Yellowstone is 60-70cm (~2 feet) deep. It is mostly weak, sugary facets and will struggle to support the weight of future storms. Photo: GNFAC
Avalanche Details: Cracking and collapsing above Hebgen Lake
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Dec 29, 2018GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Dec 30, 2018
Lionhead Range, 2018-12-28
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Dec 29, 2018GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Dec 30, 2018
Avalanche Details: Snowmobiler got collapsing
No Region, 2018-12-28