23-24

Widely Propagating Remote Trigger at Buck Ridge

Buck Ridge
Northern Madison
Code
AMr-R3-D2
Latitude
45.17190
Longitude
-111.38000
Notes

Widely propagating remote trigger in Beaver Creek, along Buck Ridge.

From IG: “…, probably propagated a mile long, on a layer of advanced facets 30cm below a wind slab… We dug a pit yesterday and got a ct4,  ectp9, pst 25/100 on the same layer.”

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Trigger
Snowmobile
Trigger Modifier
r-A remote avalanche released by the indicated trigger
R size
3
D size
2
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Jan 19, 2024

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The Avalanche Warning in Cooke City continues and triggering avalanches is very likely. Yesterday, my partner and I remotely triggered a slide from hundreds of feet away while ascending a lower angled, forested, slope and it propagated up to 800 ft (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74rb5HCvbsE"><span><span><span><strong>…;). We also saw at least a dozen avalanches that had broken naturally the night before, on every aspect we got a good view of (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30013"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). These slides are breaking on exceptionally weak layers of surface hoar and facets that will not stabilize quickly. Expect to trigger avalanches if you get on, or even near, any slope steeper than 30 degrees. Even avoid traveling underneath these slopes (runout zones) since they can be triggered from below.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is HIGH on all slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Human triggered slides are likely today. A number of widely propagating remote triggers yesterday demonstrate that dangerous conditions exist. This last storm didn’t put a huge load on the snowpack, but it was clearly enough to push it to its breaking point, especially on wind-loaded slopes. Riders on Buck Ridge triggered a series of slides that propagated out more than half a mile (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch/IoM5zbOF5E4"><span><span><span><strong><s…;). Remotely triggered slides were also reported near </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30037"><span><span><span><span><span><…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30046"><span><span><span><span><span><… Fork</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, and in </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30026"><span><span><span><span><span><…;. These slides are being triggered from hundreds of feet away and breaking 1-3 ft deep. A small natural below treeline that broke during the day yesterday was also reported near Big Sky. Strong winds built cohesive slabs over the widespread, very weak, weak layers. Don’t mess around with this weak, unstable snowpack. Avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees. With the likelihood of triggering these slides from below also give steep slopes a wide berth if you’re passing beneath them.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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Remotely Triggered and Natural Slides in Taylor Fork

Taylor Fork
Southern Madison
Code
SS-N-R3-D2
Latitude
45.06070
Longitude
-111.27200
Notes

From obs: "Natural & remote trigger avalanches observed on most steep terrain" in the Taylor Fork on 1/18/24. 

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
3
D size
2
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year