17-18

<p>Yesterday, strong wind in the Bridger Range drifted 2” of new snow into slabs 6-12” thick. Ski patrol easily triggered these slabs on mid-elevation terrain, at the bottom of cliffs and on steep rollovers. A skier triggered a soft slab on the Football Field just south of Bridger Bowl’s boundary, which ran over the cliffs and left him wide eyed. These soft slabs are possible to trigger today. Carefully evaluate recently wind loaded terrain, and assess the terrain for consequences of being caught in even a small slide.</p>

<p>Eric and I visited the west side of the Bridger Range on Wednesday where we found weak, sugary facets at the surface that will be a problem when capped with more snow (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/small-faceted-grains"><strong>pho…;, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b30nRjneTlE"><strong>video</strong></a&…;). I went to the west side again yesterday and was surprised to find a slope with weak facets below the thanksgiving crust, which produced unstable test results (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/unstable-test-results-west-side-b…;, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/west-side-bridger-profile-14-dec"…;). Isolated areas of unstable snow exist, especially on the complex terrain of the west side, and give reason to dig before riding steep terrain (<a href="https://youtu.be/io32nxnei0c"><strong>video</strong></a&gt;).</p>

<p>Small wind slabs are possible to trigger today and the avalanche danger is <strong>MODERATE</strong> on wind loaded slopes. Otherwise, the snowpack is generally stable and avalanche danger is <strong>LOW</strong> on non-wind loaded slopes.</p>

<p>Moderate wind and only a couple inches of fresh snow will not increase the avalanche danger today. The snowpack is mostly stable, and avalanches are difficult to trigger. Small, isolated wind slabs may be found near ridgelines, and will pose minimal threat unless they are triggered in steep, high consequence terrain.</p>

<p>The main concern is weak&nbsp;facets that just got capped by a couple inches of snow (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/small-faceted-grains"><strong>pho…;). Doug found this layer in the Taylor Fork on Wednesday (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/thin-and-faceted-pika-point"><str…;), and we suspect it exists on slopes throughout the advisory area. Although this layer is not creating widespread instability at the moment, it will be something to pay close attention to as more snow falls this weekend.</p>

<p>Today, generally safe avalanche conditions exist and avalanche danger is <strong>LOW</strong>.</p>

<p>If you get out and have any avalanche or snowpack observations to share, drop a line via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation">website</a&gt;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com">mtavalanche@gmail.com</a&gt;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>

<p>Yesterday’s storm was unusual. The valleys picked up just as much snow as the mountains, if not more. Despite this fact, it was nice to see the white stuff fall. While this welcomed shot of snow improved skiing and riding conditions, it did little to heighten the avalanche danger.</p>

<p>Snow totals were 1-2”, which did not add a significant load to our snowpack. Today, there will be small isolated wind slabs near the ridgelines that formed from moderate west-northwest winds. These small slabs could be touchy if resting over a thin layer of near surface facets. However, these fresh slabs should only be 4-6” thick and pose little threat unless triggered in steep, high consequence terrain. Outside of small, isolated wind slabs the snowpack is generally stable (<a href="https://youtu.be/io32nxnei0c"><strong>video</strong></a&gt;).</p>

<p>The main concern now is the layer of near surface facets that&nbsp;got capped by the new snow (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/small-faceted-grains">photo</a></…;). Yesterday, I found this layer to be well developed on the west side of the Bridger Range (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b30nRjneTlE">video</a></strong&gt;) and Doug&nbsp;found this layer in the Taylor Fork (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/thin-and-faceted-pika-point">phot…;). We do not have a complete record of where this layer exists, but it’s safe to say it can be found in all mountain ranges. Its distribution may be dependent on aspect and elevation and we’ll be tracking it as we spend more time in the field. Although this layer is not creating widespread instability at the moment, it will be something to pay close attention to as more snow falls this weekend.</p>

<p>Yesterday’s snowfall did not add significant stress to the snowpack. For this reason generally safe avalanche conditions exist and the avalanche danger is rated <strong>LOW</strong>.<strong> </strong></p>

<p>If you get out and have any avalanche or snowpack observations to share, drop a line via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation">website</a&gt;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com">mtavalanche@gmail.com</a&gt;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>

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