This photo is looking up the slope from the toe of the debris. The debris was 6-8 feet deep and 40 feet wide. The slide ran 300 feet vertical and was 50 feet wide at the crownline. Average slope angle at the starting zone was 40 gress and 36 degrees steepness at the trigger point. The avalanche released on a layer of small-grained facets 1.5 to 2 feet from the surface. Photo: GNFAC
13-14
Three skiers triggered this from lower on the slope, 100 vertical feet below the crown. This picture was taken at the crown and looks downslope. Luckily they were below these trees when it avalanched since getting carried into them could be fatal. Photo: GNFAC
Three skiers triggered the slope from near the person in the photo. They were skinning uphill at the time. Photo: GNFAC
This photo was taken from the trigger point looking uphill. The slope released 100 vertical feet above the party of three with the crown behind the biggest trees. Photo: GNFAC
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Mon Feb 17, 2014
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
Cooke City
Consistent snowfall and strong winds pushed many slopes past their breaking point in the mountains near Quake Lake. These slides were breaking 2-3 feet deep and propagating hundreds of feet wide. Photo GNFAC
A natural avalanche on a wind-loaded slope on the NW aspect of Woddy Ridge. Photo: B. Fredlund
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Mon Feb 17, 2014
Three skiers were caught in this slide in Beehive Basin. The slide was triggered as the skiers were ascending the slope. One skier suffered a leg injury and needed to be rescued. The slide occurred on a west facing slope around 8,700 ft. Photo M. Young
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Mon Feb 17, 2014
A skier near Bacon Rind in the southern Madison Range triggered this slide from the top of the slope. The slide failed on a layer of surface hoar. Photo M. Carey