Photos

Skiers on Woody Ridge saw a recent natural avalanche that likely happened yesterday, 01/07. The crown is 8-16" deep and runs a few hundred feet down the gully on a wind-loaded slope. Photo. N. Stayner

Snowpit at the Head of Hellroaring Creek on 1/7/24. Note the two stripes of surface hoar in the pit wall.

We measured 16" of low-density snow equaling 0.7" of snow water equivalent at higher elevations in the Centennial Mountains of Island Park, ID. The new snow is sitting on a couple of layers of feathery surface hoar and a weak snowpack. It will not take much wind, settlement, or new snow to push the snowpack to the breaking point. Photo: GNFAC

New snow in Island Park made for beautiful views and heightened avalanche danger as the new snow fell on a snowpack riddled with weak layers. Photo: GNFAC

This natural avalanche happened following recent snow on 01/05, likely on the morning of 01/06. Photo: GNFAC

From Obs: "Loose snow avalanches were still sensitive to triggers. These avalanches would start in the new snow but entrain the weak faceted snow below resulting in larger avalanches than what recent storm snow could produce on its own." Photo: GNFAC

Snowpit in Second Yellow Mule. The gray line above the shovel is a layer of well-preserved buried surface hoar 12-16mm in size. Photo: GNFAC

This natural avalanche happened following recent snow on 01/05, likely on the morning of 01/06. Photo: GNFAC

Remotely triggered avalanche on a test slope in Muddy Creek. Photo: GNFAC

Avalanche on a steep rollover near Muddy Creek that was likely triggered remotely while approaching on foot or from above by snow machine. Photo: GNFAC

Remotely triggered avalanche on a test slope in Muddy Creek. Photo: GNFAC

Buried well-preserved surface hoar found at Buck Ridge, 10-12mm in size. Photo: GNFAC

From obs: "With no slabs, there wasn’t any propagating but with a heavy ski cut two of the point releases were triggered, and the third when skiing. All three went to the ground. All triggered after the first skier made no impact on the slope." Photo: Anonymous

From obs: "With no slabs, there wasn’t any propagating but with a heavy ski cut two of the point releases were triggered, and the third when skiing. All three went to the ground. All triggered after the first skier made no impact on the slope." Photo: Anonymous

Loose snow avalanche observed on Henderson Mountain following yesterday's (01/04) storm. Photo: J. Padilla

Small loose snow avalanches on Henderson Moutain following a storm on 01/04. Photo: J. Padilla

Doug Chabot (expert sage brush forecaster) reported that the sagebrush danger is rated HIGH in the meadows below Bacon Rind. The danger of downed trees blocking the skin track is CONSIDERABLE at low elevations; cautious route-finding is essential :-). Photo: GNFAC

Doug scoops up the feathers of surface hoar crystals at Bacon Rind. Photo: GNFAC

Big feathers of surface hoar on all slopes at Bacon Rind. Photo: GNFAC

A skier in Bear Basin intentionally pushed a loose snow avalanche downhill. The avalanche consisted entirely of unconsolidated facets. Photo: N. Davies