Bollettino valanghe

Bridgeport Avalanche Center

Bridgeport Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

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Alta quota
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Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
2 · Moderato
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In sintesi

It may be possible to trigger a large avalanche today. Wind slab snow at the surface and older weak snow deep in the snowpack remain a concern.  These could occur on slope configurations such as start zones, convexities, near ridges, sheltered mid-elevation terrain, and open slopes with wind-blown snow. Continue to give yourself a wide margin to these problems as these slides can often break bigger and be more destructive than we anticipate. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2

    Saturday was the first clearing after the storm that impacted the region late into Friday night.  Generally, the first day or two after a storm, the snow is often touchy, this proved true today. Wind can deposit 3-5 x's more snow on a slope than it can fall from the sky. Pay attention to places where the wind has piled up the snow. Several large audible whumpfs, and collapses were heard and felt in the snowpack today as well as several human-triggered avalanches. 

    The terrain below ridges, in start zones, gullies, convexities, or slopes that collect windblown snow will be suspect today. Wind slabs sometimes have a texture on the surface and feel stiff to the hand. Wind-driven snow can sound hollow and feel firm. Outside of recent avalanche activity, shooting cracks, collapses, and whumpfing sounds are all red-flag warnings that the snow is unstable. Triggering a wind slab today could cause an avalanche to step down to deeper instabilities in the snowpack (see problem #2).  Consider terrain options more protected from the wind to avoid the wind slab problem. 

    (2/8/2025)

    Wind Slab avalanche, triggered by a rider and their machine 

    Photo: Julian Hanna

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2.5

    Deeper instabilities still exist in the snowpack. The crown line in this photo, triggered on Saturday, is large and points to the destructive force these slab avalanches can have. 

    Persistent Slabs are hard to predict.  The visual and audio clues that were obvious during the storm cycle last week most likely will not be present today. The problem deep in the pack will take time to resolve, avoidance is the best course of action to not engage with this problem. You can't see this problem on the surface (like a wind slab) and the avalanches that get triggered often break larger and are more destructive than we anticipate. North-facing terrain where faceted, surgery snow existed before the storm, along with crusts intermixed between the facets, have created a complex picture within the snowpack. 

    This slab broke when a rider and machine traveled near the base of the slope on Saturday, they were able to get out of harm's way. 

    (2/8/2025)

    A Large slab avalanche was triggered by a rider on their machine lower down on the slope. This slide broke on a layer(s) deep in the snowpack. 

    Photo: Julian Hanna

Avalanche Discussion

The snowpack still needs time to heal. The danger is decreasing however there are still pockets of unstable snow, modern mountain machines can get into much terrain in one day, and a lot can be learned from machine track tests and how to reduce risk when traveling in avalanche terrain. 

Take home thoughts from the close calls on Saturday:

Consider tighter protocols when in avalanche terrain and there are other groups about. There were at least 2 human-triggered avalanches that were triggered by a rider on their snowmobile with other people near or on the slope at that time from a different group. 

Ride one at a time: if you are ascending or descending consider traveling one at a time. 

Carry basic safety gear; a beacon, shovel, and probe can save your life or your partner's. 

Be spatially aware: If there is a group on a slope in the area you wish to ride, consider speaking with them before you and your group session that zone. 

Regioni coperte