Weather and Avalanche Log for Wed Mar 5, 2025
small increase in winds yesterday afternoon/evening
24-25
From obs on 3/4/25:
"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."
Sluffing in new snow
Date
Activity
Skiing
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.
Region
Bridger Range
Location (from list)
The Ramp
Observer Name
Hoyer
PWL Avalanche in Muddy Creek
Buck Ridge
Northern Madison
Code
SS-R3-D2-O
Elevation
8700
Aspect
E
Latitude
45.17190
Longitude
-111.38000
Notes
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.
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
R size
3
D size
2
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Vertical Fall
400ft
Slab Width
500.00ft
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year
Small PWL Avalanche in First Yellow Mule
Buck Ridge
Northern Madison
Code
SS-AMu-R1-D1-O
Elevation
9000
Aspect
N
Latitude
45.17190
Longitude
-111.38000
Notes
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.
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Snowmobile
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
1
D size
1
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness
18.0 inches
Vertical Fall
20ft
Slab Width
20.00ft
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year
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
Avalanche Details: PWL Avalanche in Muddy Creek
Northern Madison, 2025-03-04
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 saw a small north-facing avalanche in the First Yellow Mule (R1-D1) that was snowmobile triggered. It looked to be around a week old. Photo: GNFAC
Avalanche Details: Small PWL Avalanche in First Yellow Mule
Northern Madison, 2025-03-04