23-24

We saw a fresh avalanche in Watkins Creek that we think was triggered remotely during the day on 2/16 by a group that was riding in a flat meadow above, where we saw their tracks at least 150 feet away (photo). This slide was 2-3' deep and 100-150' feet wide, breaking on old sugary snow. HS-R3-D2-O. Photo: GNFAC

We rode up Denny Creek below Lionhead Ridge, then around to the north, through Watkins Creek and into the top of Targhee Creek. We saw a lot of old and recent avalanches that happened at various times over the last week, and in a wide variety of terrain. On lower elevation, generally non-wind-loaded terrain in the trees we saw at least 4 avalanches that were 2'+ deep and 100'+ wide. Near ridgelines there were many avalanches, harder slabs, 2'+ deep breaking hundreds of feet wide.

On our way out we saw a fresh avalanche in Watkins Creek that we think was triggered remotely during the day by a group that was riding in a flat meadow above, where we saw their tracks at least 150 feet away (photo). This slide was 2-3' deep and 100-150' feet wide, breaking on old sugary snow. HS-R3/4-D2-O. We rode along the flat terrain above the avalanche and could feel our sled tracks punch through the supportable slab into weak snow at the bottom of the snowpack.

We felt a couple collapses while sitting on our sleds, and saw a couple long shooting cracks while riding. We dug a snowpit in Targhee creek on a northwest facing slope at 9,435'. We had an ECTP27 below a 2.5' deep slab, sitting on 1.5' of weak sugary snow.

Skies were mostly sunny with a light breeze out of the north.

From email: "Was in round lake was visiting with a guy in the warm up shack.  He said he caused a decent size avalanche on the sheep mountain side. 

It was roughly 100 feet wide, he was hit by the avalanche but didn’t get buried."

Riders north of Cooke City observed a recent avlanche that appeared to be triggered by snowmobilers on the east side of Henderson Mountain. Photo: Z. Peterson

Riders north of Cooke City observed a recent avlanche that appeared to be triggered by snowmobilers on the east side of Henderson Mountain. Photo: Z. Peterson

Riders triggered a large avalanche on 02/16/2024 on the north side of Scotch Bonnet Mountain. Photo: Z. Peterson