Bridger Range

“Early in, early out” is the theme for today. Rollerballs coming down or breaking through the surface crusts are indicators thatit is time to leave or steer off sunny slopes toward shadier slopes that still have a supportable crust. Seek out slopes without overhanging cornices, and keep an eye out for cracks and cornices when traveling along ridge lines.

Today will be another great day to find corn skiing and riding in the mountains. The snow surface will have a light crust this morning but will soften up quickly, as overnight temperatures were in the 30s and slightly warmer than yesterday. 

This means that as long as the snow surface remains frozen or slightly softens up with a supportable crust underneath, wet loose avalanches are unlikely in the morning. However, once you start breaking through the crust or notice rollerballs coming down, wet loose avalanches become a concern. You can trigger them as a skier or rider, but wet loose avalanches can also start naturally most likely near rocks or in steeper terrain, where the snowpack is thinner and gets more direct sun as Mark observed on Friday in Cooke City (observation). These avalanches can gouge deep into the snowpack and entrain a lot of snow on their way down, becoming large enough to bury a skier or rider. 

Throughout the winter, huge cornices have formed across the advisory area. With the warm temperatures during the day, there is a chance that these cornices will break or chunks will fall off. Ian and I observed a few large wet loose avalanches in Lionhead on Thursday (video) that were triggered by cornice fall. Even small chunks of cornice that fall can knock you off your feet in steep, exposed terrain, such as above cliffs. Another observation in Hyalite shows a deep crack in a cornice while traveling along a ridge (observation). Cornices can fail unexpectedly, and even small sections that break off can be deadly if you step or ride too far out on them, carrying you down the slope.

“Early in, early out” is a good theme for today. Plan to head in early enough to travel on a supportable crust and leave early before the snow gets too soft. (Just like yesterday at Bridger Bowl Ski Patrol’s Dirt Bag ball, you’ve got to be there early to get a ticket for some fun turns on the dance floor.) If you notice yourself breaking through wet snow, it is time to leave or at least steer off sunny slopes and move toward shadier, northerly slopes that still have a supportable crust. Seek out slopes without overhanging cornices, and watch for cracks and cornices when traveling along ridgelines. 

Today, the danger is MODERATE across the entire advisory area, especially later in the day regarding wet snow.