Above freezing temperatures at higher elevations created wet snow avalanches on slopes facing the sun. Photo: G. Antonioli
18-19
Collapse and recent avalanche at Bacon Rind
From e-mail "...Surprisingly supportive trailbreaking. Isolated collapsing both low in Bacon Rind creek, and ascending under Ernie Miller. One notable whumph at 9200' near saddle, we could hear sympathetic whumphing into the distance. Triggered from a thin spot near a tree.
Numerous older slides on the lesser angled, SE and SSE asp of Ernie Miller, as well as Northerly asps of White Peak and BTL areas at the head of Bacon Rind creek.
One small slide on a N asp at head of Bacon rind creek, elev 8750, had a crisper look than most of the others observed, suspect more recent. Not a big pocket but indicative of what might still be out there waiting for a trigger, given the fact that we are still observing collapses even this long after significant loading. Photo attached.
...probing at 8300' in a sheltered open low angle meadow, E asp, found a mighty 80cm. Same setup described elsewhere in the area, about 10cm DF which is faceting out, capped by SH 3-5mm, overlying 25cm or so 1F slab, overlying very weak FC."
"One small slide on a N asp at head of Bacon rind creek, elev 8750, had a crisper look than most of the others observed, suspect more recent." Photo: M. Best
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Jan 14, 2019
Snowmobiler triggered avalanche in McAtee
A snowmobiler triggered this small avalanche on Friday (1/11) between the 3rd Yellow Mule and McAtee Basin on Buck Ridge. The slope has a terrain trap at the bottom where snow can pile deep and makes small slides more dangerous. The relatively shallow snowpack is weaker and shows that a poor snowpack structure exists on some slopes in the northern mountains of our advisory area, and makes avalanches possible to trigger. Photo: GNFAC
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Jan 14, 2019GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Wed Jan 16, 2019
Snowmobile triggered avalanche in Little Belts
Avalanche triggered by snowmobilers in the Little Belts on Thursday (1/10). This is outside of our advisory area, but shows many of the mountains in Montana have a weak and unstable snowpack. Photo: N. Boyer
Avalanche triggered by snowmobilers in the Little Belts on Thursday (1/10). This is outside of our advisory area, but shows many of the mountains in Montana have a weak and unstable snowpack. Photo: N. Boyer