GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Jan 9, 2010
A blanket of weak faceted snow covers our advisory area from the Bridger Range to Cooke City.
These Natural Avalanches nearly connect to make a continuous crown close to a half mile long. Photo: Beau Fredlund
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Jan 9, 2010
This is a natural avalanche that happened off of Lionhead Ridge. This slide broke hundreds of feet across and upto 6 feet deep.
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Jan 9, 2010
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Fri Jan 8, 2010
Southwest Montana has experienced the most widespread avalanche cycle in the advisory area since the Avalanche Center began 20 years ago. Masters of the avalanche business have told me that "it looks like the continental snowpack is in full bloom" and unfortunately "the stabilization process is going to take a long time." We have many photos and videos of recent avalanches. Click on the links below, or visit the photo or video pages on our website.
Avalanches can happen in tight trees if conditions are right.
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Jan 9, 2010
Natural avalanche on a northeast facing slope in Sunlight Basin. This slide propagated on a wind loaded slope beneath a cornice.
One of many natural avalanches observed in the Taylor Fork. Natural avalanches were observed on all aspects.
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Fri Jan 8, 2010
This avalanche was triggered by a skier climbing a nearby, low angle ridge about 100ft away. He was experiencing lots of collapsing and cracking until a collapse of the weak layer propagated across these two slide paths. The avalanche broke 2-3 ft deep and ran well below the edge of the photo. Photo: K. Sperry
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Fri Jan 8, 2010
This avalnche was intentionally triggered in Beehive Basin on the same slope where a fatality occured on Jan 20, 2008. We have found similar instablities throughout the advisory region on all aspects and elevations.
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Fri Jan 8, 2010