Strong south/southwest winds heavily loaded east and north facing slopes in the Bridger Range on Tuesday (3-13-12). This slide occurred naturally in the Y Coulior on the west side of Saddle Peak either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. Photo GNFAC
The Bridger Bowl Ski Patrol triggered multiple multiple slide during control work today (3-15-12). Most were triggered below the ridgelines in steep, rocky terrain. Strong south/soutwest winds loaded east and north facing slopes over the past few days. Fresh drifts are resting over weak and in some places isothermal facets, which are providing a weak foundation for any type of load. Photo GNFAC
This pit was dug on a north facing slope at Lionhead. The ECT failed on 29 taps on large depth hoar crystas less than a foot off the ground. Although it would be difficult to trigger when it is this far under the surface, in areas wher the snowpack is thinner a snowmobiler could initiate a fracture that would propagate to deeper slopes like this one. Photo: GNFAC
The Bridger, Gallatin and Madison Ranges, the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone:
During Wednesday's (3/14) snow, graupel fell in many areas. Graupel is little balls of snow, and it typically rolls downhill and accumulates on aprons under ridges and cliff bands. Once covered by regular snow, graupel can produce avalanches. Luckily this is a relatively short lived problem. Photo: B. Fredlund.
Ace Powder Guides found a weak layer 3.5 feet deep in Teepee Basin of the southern Madison Range yesterday. Stability test results kept them from climbing anything steep and only riding low angle slopes. Photo: B. Radecky
