22-23
Large wind slabs on multiple aspects
Today we toured to a ridge across from the west face of Republic Mountain. We observed multiple natural avalanches on several aspects. Winds were calm until around noon, and then picked up in the afternoon and were heavily loading north aspects at this location.
Miller Mountain
On Saturday we toured up Sheep Creek and dug a pit on an SW aspect of Miller Mountain. We observed that the wind slab easily failed and propagated at this location. Shifting winds continued to load multiple aspects throughout the day. On the southwest ridge of Mineral Mountain we observed a large slide, approximately 200ft wide, that appeared to trigger another slide lower down on the slope.
Two skiers caught on town hill, Cooke
We triggered and were caught in an avalanche very near town. We skied the east side of Miller, dropped down to descend the very eastern slope just above town. While standing on approximately a 30-35 degree slope we experienced a release immediately above us. The crown line was approximately 18-24" and extended appx 50' across. We were caught for about 150' before coming to a stop and buried to the thigh. The entire slide was appx 400' from top to bottom. It was appx a D2.
From obs 2/26/23: "We triggered and were caught in an avalanche very near town. We skied the east side of Miller, dropped down to descend the very eastern slope just above town. While standing on approximately a 30-35 degree slope we experienced a release immediately above us. The crown line was approximately 18-24" and extended appx 50' across. We were caught for about 150' before coming to a stop and buried to the thigh. The entire slide was appx 400' from top to bottom. It was appx a D2."
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Feb 27, 2023
From obs 2/26/23: "We triggered and were caught in an avalanche very near town. We skied the east side of Miller, dropped down to descend the very eastern slope just above town. While standing on approximately a 30-35 degree slope we experienced a release immediately above us. The crown line was approximately 18-24" and extended appx 50' across. We were caught for about 150' before coming to a stop and buried to the thigh. The entire slide was appx 400' from top to bottom. It was appx a D2."
From obs 2/26/23: "We triggered and were caught in an avalanche very near town. We skied the east side of Miller, dropped down to descend the very eastern slope just above town. While standing on approximately a 30-35 degree slope we experienced a release immediately above us. The crown line was approximately 18-24" and extended appx 50' across. We were caught for about 150' before coming to a stop and buried to the thigh. The entire slide was appx 400' from top to bottom. It was appx a D2."
From obs 2/26/23: "We triggered and were caught in an avalanche very near town. We skied the east side of Miller, dropped down to descend the very eastern slope just above town. While standing on approximately a 30-35 degree slope we experienced a release immediately above us. The crown line was approximately 18-24" and extended appx 50' across. We were caught for about 150' before coming to a stop and buried to the thigh. The entire slide was appx 400' from top to bottom. It was appx a D2."
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Feb 27, 2023
Two skiers caught
We triggered and were caught in an avalanche very near town. We skied the east side of Miller, dropped down to descend the very eastern slope just above town. While standing on approximately a 30-35 degree slope we experienced a release immediately above us. The crown line was approximately 18-24" and extended appx 50' across. We were caught for about 150' before coming to a stop and buried to the thigh. The entire slide was appx 400' from top to bottom. It was appx a D2.
Rider partially buried on Abundance
From email 2/26/23: "I just talked with a fella that reported his buddy was buried up to his chest in an avalanche yesterday off of east abundance, near the cliffs. He reported a 4' crown and 200' wide. His buddy was snowmobiling."