From an email: "I started this Avalanche yesterday (Wed, 12/16). I dug a quick pit and saw how bad the weak layer was. In my efforts to stay off slopes above 30 I still popped this one off. It was a north facing slope at angles of 35 to 40. I stopped right on top of the convex slope and 5 feet in front of me it broke. Riders left there were 4.5 foot slabs, about 200 feet total that slid more that cracked but didn't slid." Photo: L. Merton
15-16
Although there's no info about this slide, we can guess that the new snow was sitting on weak facets that were triggered by a skier. Photo: Anon
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Thu Dec 17, 2015
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
Bridger Range
This avalanche was remotely triggered on 12/15 near Lick Creek. Photo: D. Walters
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Thu Dec 17, 2015
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Wed Dec 16, 2015
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
Bridger Range
These avalanches broke on a layer of facets at the ground early yesterday (12/14). Photo: GNFAC
Large grains of depth hoar (advanced stages of faceting) underly the snowpack. These are weak and do not bond well together. They fall out of the snowpit wall like sand and will not support much weight. We are getting collapses, cracking and avalanches on this layer throughout our advisory area. Photo: GNFAC