18-19

From e-mail: "At Hyalite Lake we looked to our right at a slope (east facing?) and there was an avalanche that probably released 2 to 4 days ago. Probably 1 to 1.5 ft crown. Didn’t run far.... dug up above the lake. ECTN 22 about 40 cm down. Wind slab and new snow on small facets." Photo: K. Birkeland

Avalanche Details: Slab avalanche near Hyalite Lake
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Jan 5, 2019
Northern Gallatin, 2019-01-05
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    • Slab avalanche near Hyalite Lake

    Hyalite - main fork
    Northern Gallatin
    Code
    N
    Aspect
    E
    Latitude
    45.39110
    Longitude
    -110.95300
    Notes

    Skiers saw an avalanche that released shortly after the New Year's storm cycle. From the email: "Snow was good below tree line and was nuked by the wind above tree line. Lots of variability. At Hyalite Lake we looked to our right at a slope (east facing?) and there was an avalanche that probably released 2 to 4 days ago.  See attached photo. Probably 1 to 1.5 ft crown. Didn’t run far. We kept our slope angles less than 30 degrees and dug up above the lake. ECTN 22 about 40 cm down. Wind slab and new snow on small facets." Photo: K. Birkeland

    Number of slides
    1
    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Number killed
    0
    Trigger
    Natural trigger
    Problem Type
    Wind-Drifted Snow
    Slab Thickness
    18.0 inches
    Weak Layer Grain type
    Faceted Crystals
    Images
    Old crown near Hyalite Peak
    Slab Thickness units
    inches
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Single Avalanche
    Advisory Year
    18-19

    We rode into Cabin Creek behind Sage Peak (via Taylor Fork) and found 2.5' of snow. The lower half was weak, sugary and unsupportive. The upper half was a slab of recent snow that collapsed with moderate force (ECTP 11). Our sled's tracks easily broke through 2.5' of snow to the ground, a sign of poor snowpack structure. Photo: GNFAC


    Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Jan 5, 2019GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Jan 7, 2019
    Southern Madison, 2019-01-04
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    • Multiple avalanches released on wind-loaded slopes in the Bridger Range south of Bridger Bowl. The largest propagated a few hundred feet wide on Bridger Peak. Smaller slabs released in the Pinnacles and in Argentina bowl. Photo: A. Schauer

    Avalanche Details: Wind Slabs in the Bridgers
    Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Jan 5, 2019
    Bridger Range, 2019-01-04
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    • Wind Slabs in the Bridgers

    Bridger Peak
    Bridger Range
    Code
    HS-N-R3-D3-O
    Aspect
    E
    Latitude
    45.76900
    Longitude
    -110.94100
    Notes

    Multiple avalanches released on wind-loaded slopes in the Bridger Range south of Bridger Bowl. The largest propagated a few hundred feet wide on Bridger Peak. Smaller slabs released in the Pinnacles and in Argentina bowl.

    Multiple Avalanches
    Number of slides
    3
    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Number killed
    0
    Avalanche Type
    Hard slab avalanche
    Trigger
    Natural trigger
    R size
    3
    D size
    3
    Bed Surface
    O - Old snow
    Problem Type
    Wind-Drifted Snow
    Images
    Slab Avalanche on Bridger Peak
    Slab Thickness units
    centimeters
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Multiple Avalanches
    Advisory Year
    18-19

    Small wind slab at Bridger

    Bridger Bowl
    Bridger Range
    Code
    SS-AE-R2-D1-I
    Elevation
    81000
    Aspect
    SE
    Latitude
    45.80920
    Longitude
    -110.92800
    Number of slides
    1
    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Avalanche Type
    Soft slab avalanche
    Trigger
    An explosive thrown or placed on or under the snow surface by hand
    R size
    2
    D size
    1
    Bed Surface
    I - Interface between new and old snow
    Problem Type
    Wind-Drifted Snow
    Slab Thickness
    9.0 inches
    Vertical Fall
    300ft
    Slab Width
    30.00ft
    Images
    Natural avalanche at Bridger
    Slab Thickness units
    inches
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Single Avalanche
    Advisory Year
    18-19

    Older crowns in Hyalite near A Lowe Peak

    Alex Lowe Peak
    Northern Gallatin
    Code
    SS-N-R2-D2
    Elevation
    9300
    Aspect Range
    N-NW-SW
    Latitude
    45.43390
    Longitude
    -110.99500
    Notes

    From email on 1/3/19: "On [January] 2nd, there were 4 older natural avalanches on N slopes in the Alowe basin as well as 1 recent avalanche below the NW couloir. I've attached a pic of an older slide on the SW aspect of elephant. I also got some collapsing as I skinned up the south side of the bmor/elephant saddle on the 3rd."

    Multiple Avalanches
    Number of slides
    5
    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Avalanche Type
    Soft slab avalanche
    Trigger
    Natural trigger
    R size
    2
    D size
    2
    Images
    Older natural crown below Elephant
    Slab Thickness units
    centimeters
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Multiple Avalanches
    Advisory Year
    18-19
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