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These slides broke 1-2 feet deep on a thin layer of faceted snow formed in late January during 2 weeks of dry weather. So far this layer hasn't broken over wide areas and produced large avalanches. Photo: GNFAC

This slide was triggered today (2/9) by snowmobilers on Lionhead. It broke on weak, faceted snow (aka sugar snow) about 1 foot above the ground. It was just dumb luck that it did not break over a larger area. Nearby, the yellow circle shows the crown from a very large avalanche that occurred just over 2 weeks ago. The slope in the middle hasn't pulled out yet, but there's a good chance it would if you climbed it. Photo: GNFAC

Skiers in the northern Bridgers triggered this small slide near Frazier Basin. New snow sitting on a thin layer of facets was the likley recipe that caused this slide. Photo KT Miller 

A thick layer of surface hoar can be found on most slopes around Bacon Rind in the southern Madison Range. This layer consistently produced unstable results in stability tests. Photo GNFAC

This slope produced an avalanche in late December on facets about 1 foot (30 cm) above the ground. Those facets have become very weak depth hoar that now has a 3 foot slab of snow on top of it and could produce another avalanche. Photo: GNFAC