Photos

Ian Hoyer stands in the 7 foot deep snowpit we dug to look at layering and stability. Stability was good. We dug at 9300' off the Sawtelle Peak Road to keep tabs on stability since we put out warnings and basic information for this area on our Trip Planning page. Photo: GNFAC

Looking up at the Fat Maid from Maid of the Mist basin. Strong winds over the last week have scoured the alpine, exposing lots of rock. Photo: GNFAC

Strong wind over the last week created this surface texture in the Bridger Range. Photo: T. Allen

A wind swept ridgeline at the head of Targhee Creek near Lionhead. 1/11/22. Photo: GNFAC

Cornices along Lionhead Ridge. 1/11/22. Photo: GNFAC

A layer of near surface facets is buried about a foot down on some slopes near Lionhead. 1/11/22 Photo: GNFAC

From obs 1/10/22: "Saw this recent natural slide, probably a day or two old, while skiing on Emigrant. Start zone approx 10,400ft, E facing. We guessed the crown was 3-5ft deep. Evidence of wind loading on similar surrounding slopes, suggesting wind slab as culprit." Photo: T. Benson

From email 1/9/22: "Skier triggered cornice failure avalanche. Broke at skis 10-12 feet from the lip. No one caught or injured."

From email 1/9/22: "Skier triggered cornice failure avalanche. Broke at skis 10-12 feet from the lip. No one caught or injured."

From email 1/9/22: "Skier triggered cornice failure avalanche. Broke at skis 10-12 feet from the lip. No one caught or injured."

Photo from Crunchy the blue heeler (@crunchy_adventures)

From email 1/9/22: "Skier triggered cornice failure avalanche. Broke at skis 10-12 feet from the lip. No one caught or injured."

It was easy to crack the thin wind slabs that formed from strong wind the last 2 days. They were not propagating, but cracking indicated potential instability on wind drifts. Photo: GNFAC

Strong wind in the previous 2 days sculpted the snow surface into waves of sastrugi. Photo: GNFAC

Wind in the last 2 days gusted 45-70 mph and stripped some starting zones down to dirt in Beehive Basin. Photo: GNFAC

From obs: 1/8/22: "...One minor avalanche observed in Republic Creek.  It was on a steep and rocky E, NE aspect around 9700'..." Photo: B. Fredlund

From obs: 1/8/22: "Observed natural north Scotch Bonnet". Ran during storm 1/6-1/8. Photo: D. Wycoff

Naturally triggered Avalanche on North North East aspect. Heavy wind loading evident. The slide appeared to be recent, 24 to 48 hours old. 

Small natural storm slab avalanche seen near Lionhead. 1/6/22. Photo: C. Leonard

The West Yellowstone Beacon Park is up and running for the season! 

Photo: J. Norlander (1/6/22)

A small skier triggered storm slab on the west side of the Bridgers. 1/6/22

Photo: P. Hinz