During last weeks avalanche cycle some slopes on Saddle Peak naturally released. The "X" marks the location where I dug a pit with Karl on December 17 and again with Eric and Mark in the 31st. We got clean, propagating shears in our ECT which seemed to indicate instability quite well. Check out the Dec 17 video or today's photo "Saddle Peak Snowpit" for more info. Photo: Tony Saracelli
Just because the weather is high pressure and stable does not mean the same for the snowpack. The pack is still searching for the equilibrium that it may never achieve this season. During the storm cycle last week tremendous stress was added very quickly. This new load increased an already offset equilibrium in the pack, testing and at times snapping the meager strength that held the snow in place. This resulted in one of the largest avalanche cycles our area has seen in quite some time.
This photo was taken by Tom Leonard, Patrol Director at the Yellowstone Club. These slides occurred on Saturday, Jan 9th. These were likely human triggered, but unconfirmed. Regardless, they show how widespread the avalanche cycle was around Buck Ridge, Cedar Mountain and Big Sky.
Jeannie Wall stands next to the crown. It was the same recipe as everywhere else in sw Montana: facets failing to support a 2 foot thick slab of snow.
This picture is a closeup of the natural avalanche that occurred in MacAtee Basin a few days ago. The Sphinx looms in the background. The "X" marks where I dug into the crown to investigate. A picture "MacAtee Crown" was taken at this spot. Photo: Kyle Goodyear
This photo was taken in the 2nd Yellowmule on Buck Ridge. Riders hit slopes adjacent to this slide after it already avalanched. This is a high risk move since adjacent slopes have similar instabilities.
Sunny skies and warmer temperatures over the past few days have helped slow down natural avalanche activity but have not done much to heal our feeble snowpack. Persistent instability remains over our entire advisory area making for dangerous avalanche conditions. The old saying that 'time heals' may work for relationships and knee injuries but does not apply to our snowpack. As the weak structure of our pack continues to adjust to the storm loads, natural avalanches will become less common, but human triggered avalanches will remain likely.
This avalache was triggered by a snowmobiler in Sunlight Basin. Everyone escaped unharmed except the tree.
