21-22

Natural avalanches in southern Madison

Taylor Fork
Southern Madison
Code
SS-N-R3-D2-I
Elevation
10000
Aspect
E
Aspect Range
E, W
Latitude
45.06070
Longitude
-111.27200
Number of slides
3
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
3
D size
2
Bed Surface
I - Interface between new and old snow
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year

NW arm of Hebgen Lake

Date
Activity
Skiing

No avalanches observed

no shooting cracks or collapses

pit #1: east aspect 8400’

PS 12 cm/ PB 40 cm; 5 to 10 mm SH on snow surface

HS 90 cm

ECTN 23 down 25 cm from snow surface

ECTX on basal facets

CT 17 SC on 1.5 mm facets at ground

PST 43/100 END on basal facets

1.5 mm facets from ground to about 10 cm up; poor structure (5 lemon layer)

 

Pit # 2 at E aspect 9100’

CT 13 SC on basal facets (HS 85 cm)

Overall surprisingly shallow snow; measured  about 15 times in different places from 8200’ up and it was consistently only 85 to 90 cm deep

no wind today or evidence of recent winds

Widespread surface hoar on snow surface everywhere; 3 mm to 10 mm 

Top 10 cm of snowpack was faceted (loud skiing!) and between that and the surface hoar it will prolly create issues when loaded

 

 

Region
Lionhead Range
Location (from list)
Hebgen Lake
Observer Name
Alexis Alloway

Hebgen Mtn Summit

Date
Activity
Skiing

ECT 28 - 15cm from the ground on depth hoar - Q2

PST 50% -  30cm from the surface on buried surface hoar

No changes in hardness greater than one step.

South aspects have an inch crust layer with soft unconsolidated snow underneith. Overall depth around 2.5'.  Evidence of lots of tree bombs and a few rollers from the sun all this week.  

East aspects were the place to be today.

 

Region
Southern Madison
Location (from list)
Hebgen Lake
Observer Name
MICHAEL K Myers