21-22

Natural Avalanche in Maid of the Mist

Maid of the Mist
Northern Gallatin
Code
SS-N-R2-D1.5-I
Elevation
9000
Aspect
N
Latitude
45.41640
Longitude
-110.97000
Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
2
D size
1.5
Bed Surface
I - Interface between new and old snow
Problem Type
New Snow
Slab Thickness
30.0 centimeters
Slab Width
200.00ft
Images
Natural Avalanche, N face of Maid of the Mist
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year
21-22

Several small storm slabs near Beehive

Middle Basin
Northern Madison
Code
SS-N-R1-D1-I
Elevation
9400
Aspect
SE
Latitude
45.33740
Longitude
-111.38100
Notes

Small (R1) storm slabs were observed under a cliff band at the mouth of Middle Basin

Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Bed Surface
I - Interface between new and old snow
Problem Type
Storm Slab
Slab Thickness
12.0 inches
Vertical Fall
200ft
Slab Width
10.00ft
Slab Layer Grain Type
Precipitation Particles
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
21-22

From obs: "Observed a D1.5 natural on the N side of Maid of the Mist, photo attached. Looked like the upper pocket slid, then triggered the lower slope. ~75m crown line on the lower slope, depth looked like between 20-40cm. Upper pocket, hard to tell with limited viz." Photo credit: M. Zia

Avalanche Details: Natural Avalanche in Maid of the Mist
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Mar 21, 2022
Northern Gallatin, 2022-03-20
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    • Persistent slab near Mt. Zimmer

    Date
    Activity
    Skiing

    We dug a snowpit near the saddle between Green Lake and Zimmer Creek at 10,000 feet on a southeast aspect. We found 10cm of fresh snow above a 1cm ice crust. We found a 5cm ice crust 50cm deep with a 1cm weak layer above it, where we had a result of ECTP14. Based on this result we avoided avalanche terrain today. Our full test results were:

    CT5 Q2 10cm (below 1cm ice crust)
    CT13 Q2 50cm (above 5cm ice crust)
    CT17 Q1 55cm (below 5cm ice crust)

    ECTN4 10cm (below 1cm ice crust)
    ECTP14 50cm (above 5cm ice crust)
    ECTN17 55cm (below 5cm ice crust)

    Region
    Cooke City
    Location (from list)
    Zimmer Creek
    Observer Name
    Jack Taylor

    natural avalanches and sluffs in maid of the mist

    Date
    Activity
    Skiing

    Didn't get a good HN measurement, estimated ~25-30cm

    S1 most of the day, our skin track was buried on the way out

    Moderate winds, predominately westerly

    Southerly aspects had significant sluffing on the crust interface

    Storm snow <F, but subtly stiffening during the day

    Observed a D1.5 natural on the N side of Maid of the Mist, photo attached. Looked like the upper pocket slid, then triggered the lower slope. ~75m crown line on the lower slope, depth looked like between 20-40cm. Upper pocket, hard to tell with limited viz

    Region
    Northern Gallatin
    Location (from list)
    Maid of the Mist
    Observer Name
    matt zia

    Cornice Triggered Avalanche Republic Creek

    Republic Creek
    Cooke City
    Code
    SS-NC-R2-D2-O
    Aspect
    N
    Latitude
    44.98550
    Longitude
    -109.94100
    Notes

    Skiers spotted this natural avalanche on a north-facing slope in Republic Creek

    Number of slides
    1
    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Avalanche Type
    Soft slab avalanche
    Trigger
    Cornice fall
    R size
    2
    D size
    2
    Bed Surface
    O - Old snow
    Images
    Cornice triggered slide in Republic Creek
    Slab Thickness units
    centimeters
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Single Avalanche
    Advisory Year
    21-22

    Collapsing on NE aspect in Bear Basin

    Bear Basin
    Northern Madison
    Code
    Latitude
    45.34530
    Longitude
    -111.37500
    Notes

    From obs: "We were one basin north of Bear basin on the NE ramp of Bear Peak (10400'). We were on an NNE aspect of the ramp taking off our skis to dig a pit when we noticed how rotten the snow was, boot pen was immediately up to our waste. My partner noticed a subtle collapse and a couple of seconds later we both felt and audibly heard a larger collapse. There were a few shooting cracks about 5-8 feet up the slope from us and arcing about 10 feet across the slope. We gingerly put our skis back on and traversed down and away from to a low-angle bench. 

    Digging hasty hand pits and probing with our poles we continued to notice hard crusts and slabs with weak snow beneath them on E and NE aspects protected from the sun but less so on anything slightly south-facing or west. During a quick column test on a SE aspect at about 10,200', the result was CT14."

    Number of slides
    0
    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Slab Thickness units
    centimeters
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Red Flag
    Advisory Year
    21-22
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