The avalanche on Mt Two Top slid on a layer of surface hoar easily seen in a pit wall. Fortunately you can quickly and easily locate this layer because it is only buried 15 inche deep.
08-09
This photo shows the scene of the avalanche accident on Mt Two Top. The approximate location of the crown (dashed line) and where the rider was caught and subsequently buried are labeled.
A snowmobiler was caught and seriously injured in an avalanche on Two Top near West Yellowstone. Photo:Tim Campbell
Small point release and soft slab avalanches are sliding on the surface hoar and facets 3-5 inches under the surface. This photo was on a ENE aspect at 9800 feet in Lightening Creek in the Taylor fork area. Photo: Mason Young
On Saturday, skiers saw many point release slides that entrained a lot of snow. The red circle shows an area where the newer snow broke as a slab avalanche. Photo: Mike Rie
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Feb 6, 2009
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
The Gallatin and Madison Ranges, the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone, the mountains around Cooke City and the Washburn Range:
This slide near Windy Pass demonstrates the potential for faceted crystals under new snow to produce avalanches. Even small slides can be deadly if they push you into a terrain trap or your partners are not prepared for a rescue. Photo L. Ingeman
This slide on Henderson Mountain demonstrates the potential for faceted crystals under new snow to produce avalanches. Even small slides can be deadly if they push you into a terrai trap or your partners are not prepared for a rescue. Photo B. Fredlund
Mark Staples investigates a 3-5 foot deep, wind-loaded slope that avalanched last week. A very dense, pencil hardness slab was sitting on a thin ice crust with facets above it about 1 foot off the ground.