Bronco Chutes

We were the first group out at the Bronco Chutes for the day. On the approach, there were some high winds coming over Relay summit in the early morning which were stripping NE faces. We skied Relay N face with no signs of instability, although the snow had some wind affect. In isolated areas of the Relay ridge there was cracking of the top few inches of snow. There was no wind when we arrive at the Bronco Chutes. Part of the group skied the main chute around 10 am with no signs of instability. The first skier down a secondary chute triggered a D1 windslab in the top few inches of slightly wind affected snow at a slight rollover ~100 feet down the chute, which propagated across half of the chute and carried some additional soft snow. It broke largely below the skier, and did not carry them. The second skier triggered an additional small pocket higher in the chute. A couple group members chose to descend a second line and one triggered an additional small windslab, also breaking below the skiier in N facing terrain. These small avalanches, likely from windblown snow from the recent ENE winds, did not appear to pose much of a risk in areas with a clean runout, but suggest extra caution in steep terrain with exposure or obstacles below. The snow we encountered early in the morning was largely soft and cold, with some firmness in the upper layer in isolated areas from wind or yesterday's sun. By the time we exited to Ophir around 1 pm, the snow on SE and lower elevation slopes of Relay was wet and warm.

Bronco Chutes

Quick report

Avalanche