09-10

A skier cut this p wind slab on an east facing slope.  He also got large collapses and cracks as he skinned uphill.  Photo: Jim Purdy

This photo shows the two natural slides seen Sunday morning on Crown Butte outside Cooke City. Photo: Beau Fredlund

A skier triggered, but was not caught, in this shallow slide as he dropped into Truman Drainage on the west side of the Bridger Range.  Although it's not huge, it would have strained someone through trees. Avalanches like this can step down into faceted snow which is a serious concern.  Photo: Anon 

New snow and strong winds have loaded some slopes near Cooke City to the breaking point.  This avalanche was seen Sunday morning, but most likely failed during or just after the strom Friday night into Saturday.  Photo by Casey Smith

This wind loaded slope was triggered by a skier who luckily was able to ski off the slab before being caught.  This slide took place on a S-SW facing slope in Wyoming Bowl just outside the Big Sky ski area boundry. Photo: Anon

A foot of new snow and strong winds made for sensitive conditions in the backcountry. Photo: Tom Leonard

Small slides like these are indicative of instability on the bigger, higher slopes too.  These tiny avalanches are Mother Nature's warning that the backcountry is unstable.  Many larger slides were seen in the Buck area over the weekend.  Photo: GNF Snow Ranger Will Shoutis