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GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Wed Mar 7, 2012

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

The Bridger, Madison and Gallatin Ranges, the mountains around Cooke City and the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone:

Yesterday’s new snow contained 0.4 inches of snow water equivalent through most of the advisory area. This snow did not provide enough stress to the snowpack to significantly change the danger, but it will keep it from dropping today, and there will be three avalanche problems to address:

A snowmobioler triggered this avalanche midday.  His exit tracks are on the right.  Wind-loaded slopes are where the greatest chances of triggering slides are.  Photo: YC Ski Patrol.

Northern Madison, 2012-03-04

John The Intern and I dug on the the west side of the Bridger Range near the top of Truman Gulch.  This three foot deep snowpack is being poorly supported by a thick layer of depth hoar.  Stabilty tests broke easy and clean on this layer.  It would be possible to trigger a slide from one of these thinner spots.  Watch Video. Photo: GNFAC

No Region, 2012-03-04