From an email, "... just wanted to report a wind load we triggered today around 3:00 on the south summit of saddle today.....S.E facing slope, we were traversing under the ridge to argentina bowl ..., 3rd skier in our group, avalanche started at the lookers left of the photos and propagated north...." Photo: Anon
10-11
This slide was skier triggered on a southeast facing slope on the South Summit of Saddle Peak. Photo: Anon
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Mon Jan 10, 2011
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Jan 9, 2011
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
The northern Madison Range:
Over the past 24 hours, 2-3 inches of low density snow has fallen in the mountains around Big Sky. This new snow alone is likely not enough to push the buried surface hoar layer in this area to its breaking point, but with the added stress of a wind load, things could get interesting.
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Sat Jan 8, 2011
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
The northern Madison Range:
Two surface hoar layers are visible in this snowpit buried about 2 ft deep. The upper one in this photo produced a human triggered avalanche on Thursday, Jan 6. Photo: GNFAC
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Fri Jan 7, 2011
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
The northern Madison Range:
Eric Knoff stands near the crown of a human triggered avalanche that occurred on Thursday. It broke when the 3rd snowboarder descended near the drifted snow where surface hoar was buried about 2 ft deep. This slope has a WSW aspect, an elevation of 9100 ft, and a 37 deg slope angle. Photo: GNFAC
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Thu Jan 6, 2011
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
The northern Madison Range: