18-19

Cracking and Collapsing in Henry's Mountains

LIONHEAD AREA
Lionhead Range
Code
Latitude
44.66410
Longitude
-111.35600
Notes

Cracking and collapsing on a 31-degree slope near the Lionshead area down south. The slab was 3-4' deep, and the slope was on the verge of being steep enough to avalanche. From the email: " fractured about 20’x10’ area initially, maybe 3-4’ deep. We got off the hill and it continued to fracture in bigger spots but did not slide more than a foot total." Photo: S. Thompson

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Number killed
0
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Cracking and collapsing on a 31-degree slope near the Lionshead area down south. The slab was 3-4' deep, and the slope was on the verge of being steep enough to avalanche. From the email: " fractured about 20’x10’ area initially, maybe 3-4’ deep. We got off the hill and it continued to fracture in bigger spots but did not slide more than a foot total." Photo: S. Thompson

Lionhead Range, 2019-01-27

Big Natural Avalanches in the Bridgers

BRIDGER RANGE
Bridger Range
Code
HS-N-R3-D2.5-O
Elevation
8200
Aspect Range
E-NE
Latitude
45.84860
Longitude
-110.94600
Notes

Skiers in the Bridgers saw multiple large natural avalanches in the Bridgers that had released during recent snow and wind loading. From the email: "Looks like things really went off in the Bridgers in the last few days. Loads of natural avalanche activity, much of it appearing to fail on deeper layers than the new/old interface." Photo: B. VandenBos

Multiple Avalanches
Number of slides
6
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Number killed
0
Avalanche Type
Hard slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
3
D size
2.5
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness
60.0 inches
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year

Skiers in the Bridgers saw multiple large natural avalanches in the Bridgers that had released during recent snow and wind loading. From the email: "Looks like things really went off in the Bridgers in the last few days. Loads of natural avalanche activity, much of it appearing to fail on deeper layers than the new/old interface." This is the third large avalanche that has been reported on Bridger Peak this season. Photo: B. VandenBos

Bridger Range, 2019-01-27

Skiers in the Bridgers saw multiple large natural avalanches in the Bridgers that had released during recent snow and wind loading. From the email: "Looks like things really went off in the Bridgers in the last few days. Loads of natural avalanche activity, much of it appearing to fail on deeper layers than the new/old interface." This avalanche in the Hourglass was triggered by a large chunk of cornice that broke off. Photo: B. VandenBos

Bridger Range, 2019-01-27

Skiers in the Bridgers saw multiple large natural avalanches in the Bridgers that had released during recent snow and wind loading. From the email: "Looks like things really went off in the Bridgers in the last few days. Loads of natural avalanche activity, much of it appearing to fail on deeper layers than the new/old interface." Photo: B. VandenBos

Bridger Range, 2019-01-27

Skier triggered near Bradley's meadow

Bradley Meadow
Bridger Range
Code
SS-ASu-R3-D1.5-S
Elevation
7200
Aspect
SE
Latitude
45.82950
Longitude
-110.92700
Notes

A skier triggered this slide around two o'clock in Bradley's Meadow on 1/26. From e-mail: "The snow propagated when I made my first turn on a convex roll above the slope skiers right of the main meadow, just before the flat area before going up The Ramp. The slab broke right under my feet and propagated 20-25 feet on either side of me. The crown was 7" deep where I triggered it but some spots of it were as deep as 13". My friends and I decided that the slide was R3 and D1-D2. Luckily I was able to ski out of the slide right when it propagated so no one was caught in it."

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
3
D size
1.5
Bed Surface
S - Avalanche released within new snow
Problem Type
New Snow
Slab Thickness
10.0 inches
Vertical Fall
150ft
Slab Width
50.00ft
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Skiers triggered this avalanche in dense trees while ascending Mt. Ellis. From the email: "While subsequently skiing up through dense trees climbing to the north to attempt to reach the mid section of the going-home chute, a medium-size bowl-shaped opening in the trees released a soft slab just as we were entering the opening. The crown was ~24” deep and ~80-100’ across. Total snow depth in that area was less than three feet. The avalanche ran probably 500 vertical feet down a shallow gully. Neither my partner nor I where caught but way too close for comfort"

Northern Gallatin, 2019-01-27

Skier Triggered Avalanche Mt. Ellis

Mt Ellis
Northern Gallatin
Code
SS-ASu-R2-D2-O
Elevation
7500
Aspect
NE
Latitude
45.58290
Longitude
-110.95400
Notes

Skiers triggered this avalanche in dense trees while ascending Mt. Ellis. From the email: "While subsequently skiing up through dense trees climbing to the north to attempt to reach the mid section of the going-home chute, a medium-size bowl-shaped opening in the trees released a soft slab just as we were entering the opening. The crown was ~24” deep and ~80-100’ across. Total snow depth in that area was less than three feet. The avalanche ran probably 500 vertical feet down a shallow gully. Neither my partner nor I where caught but way too close for comfort."

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Number killed
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
2
D size
2
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness
24.0 inches
Vertical Fall
500ft
Slab Width
100.00ft
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year