Ski for scale next to debris from a recent avalanche on the SE Couloir of Emigrant Peak. The avalanche appears to have occurred within the last few days and was likely triggered by a cornice fall. Photo: H. Darby
From obs. 2/4/22: "...Also, we had one significant c collapse today on a mid elevation east as aspect A slope with just a touch of wind deposit. (first coll collapse e had in months!) The snow that collapsed appeared to be about 30-40' wide. And a hasty pit showed the layer of concern to be buried SH...."
From obs (2/4/22): "…the last 2 days was finding buried surface hoar in many locations, up to 10'000'..... And we also observed a fresh avalanche yesterday on the NW aspect of Meridian Peak. I couldn't discern a crown, due to our vantage point and a low cloud, but the debris pile looked relatively deep, and 12-48 hours fresh. Also, we had one significant collapse today on a mid elevation east aspect. A slope with just a touch of wind deposit.
From obs on 2/4/22: "We also observed a fresh avalanche yesterday on the NW aspect of Meridian Peak. I couldn't discern a crown, due to our vantage point and a low cloud, but the debris pile looked relatively deep, and 12-48 hours fresh."
From obs (2/4/22): "Touchy surface hoar layer buried under slabs on top of old surface facets in wind protected north and east facing aspects. The layer was observed between 8400 and 9400 feet in the southern Absaroka Range, in Yellowstone National Park. Intentionally skier triggered D1 and D2 slabs 10-30cm thick." Photo: S. Rathbun
<p>It is snowing this morning near Cooke City with 3 inches already on the ground at 6 am and another 4-6 inches on the way today. This new snow is falling onto a snowpack with weak layers (surface hoar and near surface facets) buried 12-18 inches down. Skiers yesterday in Yellowstone National Park (outside of the advisory area) intentionally triggered several small avalanches on these layers (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/avalanche-surface-hoar-ynp"><stro…;). As snow accumulates today it will become possible to trigger larger slides on more slopes. After a long period of relatively stable conditions it’s time to tone back your objectives. Avalanches breaking on these weak layers are often wider than you’d expect and surprise even the most experienced backcountry travelers. The avalanche danger will rise to MODERATE near Cooke City as snow falls today.</p>
<p>The 10” of snow that fell earlier this week has been blown into drifts where you could still trigger an avalanche. Yesterday, in Hyalite several groups of skiers and riders got unstable snowpack test results on weak layers in the upper snowpack and triggered small avalanches in wind-drifted pockets (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/very-small-wind-slab"><strong><u>…;). With very strong winds overnight expect to find similar conditions again today. Avoid wind drifted pillows and watch for cracks shooting out in front of you as an indication that you’ve found unstable snow and should stay off steep slopes. Triggering avalanches remains possible on wind-loaded slopes where the avalanche danger is MODERATE. On non-windloaded slopes the danger is LOW.</p>
<p>The mountains near West Yellowstone got less snow earlier this week (5-6”). While strongs winds have drifted this snow into cohesive slabs, these slabs will generally be too thin to be a significant hazard. If you find an isolated area with more than a few inches of drifted snow carefully evaluate the snowpack before committing to steep terrain. Large avalanches are unlikely and the avalanche danger is LOW </p>
<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>websi…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong><u>mtavalanche@gmail.com</u></str…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>
Good luck to everyone who is hiking and fundraising for the Friends of the Avalanche Center. In the spirit of the Olympics, the trail will be in fast condition and perhaps a new world record will be set!
See our education calendar for an up-to-date list of all local classes. Here are a few select upcoming
On Friday (2/4/22), Skiers in Yellowstone National Park (outside our advisory area) intentionally triggered avalanches 4-12" deep on a touchy layer of surface hoar .
From obs (2/4/22): "Touchy surface hoar layer buried under slabs on top of old surface facts in wind protected north and east facing aspects. The layer was observed between 8400 and 9400 feet in the southern Absaroka Range, in Yellowstone National Park. Intentionally skier triggered D1 and D2 slabs 10-30cm thick."
Photo: S. Rathbun
