Took a quite tour up The Ramp to see how the new snow is bonding. Found 3-5" of new snow. Non-cohesive and seemed well bonded to the surfaces beneath. No signs of wind effect. No slab avalanches or signs of instability noted.
Saw a few sluffs in the new snow triggered by skiers in the very steep terrain just north of the Bridger Bowl ski area boundary (see photo). These sluffs were small, definitely not large enough to bury someone.
In nearly 45 miles of riding, we noted two avalanches. Both breaking on persistent weak layers a few feet down in the snowpack. The first was a small north-facing pocket in the First Yellow Mule (R1-D1) that was snowmobile triggered. It looked to be around a week old. The second was a larger avalanche (R3-D2), east-facing, deep in Muddy Creek. This was drifted in and likely broke around 2.5 weeks ago during the last significant storm cycle.
In nearly 45 miles of riding, we noted two avalanches. Both breaking on persistent weak layers a few feet down in the snowpack. The first was a small north-facing pocket in the First Yellow Mule (R1-D1) that was snowmobile triggered. It looked to be around a week old. The second was a larger avalanche (R3-D2), east-facing, deep in Muddy Creek. This was drifted in and likely broke around 2.5 weeks ago during the last significant storm cycle.
PWL avalanche (R3-D2), east-facing, deep in Muddy Creek. This was drifted in and likely broke around 2.5 weeks ago during the last significant storm cycle. Photo: GNFAC
We dug a snowpit near the lower flank of the avalanche path and noted that these weak layers had gained strength over time. We did get propagation on a stout melt-freeze crust near the surface (ECTP5) but did not get propagation lower down on faceted grains. Photo: GNFAC
We rode along Buck Ridge, dropping into First, Second and Third Yellow Mules. We looked into Bear Creek and McAtee Basin drainages before riding through Muddy Creek to the Yellowstone Club boundary. Throughout our ride, we noted tracks nearly everywhere, including many steep slopes.
In nearly 45 miles of riding, we noted two avalanches. Both breaking on persistent weak layers a few feet down in the snowpack. The first was a small north-facing pocket in the First Yellow Mule (R1-D1) that was snowmobile triggered. It looked to be around a week old. The second was a larger avalanche (R3-D2), east-facing, deep in Muddy Creek. This was drifted in and likely broke around 2.5 weeks ago during the last significant storm cycle. We dug a snowpit near the lower flank of the path and noted that these weak layers had gained strength over time. We did get propagation on a stout melt-freeze crust near the surface (ECTP5) but did not get propagation lower down on faceted grains.
Currently, these two PWL avalanches are the only PWL avalanches we have seen/have been reported to us in this area this season. This zone seems to be the northernmost extent of the PWL problem that we are dealing with further south in Lionhead, S. Madisons and S. Gallatins.
Outside of these older two avalanches, we noted no other signs of instability and had a great day of riding.
