Granite Creek Avalanche
A large avalanche occurred in the Granite Creek area near the falls on Sunday, Feb. 16th. It deposited 50 feet of avalanche debris and crossed the river. Photo courtesy Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center.
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Granite Creek avalanche
Avalanche on Sunday, Feb. 16th crossed the snowmobile trail and traveled across Granite Creek taking out a mature lodgepole pine tree stand on the other side of the river. (same avalanche as photo above) Photo courtesy Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center.
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Avalanche Map
Map from the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center, modified with labels by Pinedale Online.
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Avalanche!
by Pinedale Online!
February 16, 2014
At least seven avalanches were reported in northwest Wyoming with the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center on Sunday, Feb. 16th.
At about 1:30 PM on Sunday a Class V sized avalanche released naturally and crossed the road/groomed trail to Granite Hot Springs. This historic event had a six to eight foot crown and deposited up to 50 feet of avalanche debris. This slide occurred in a highly used area where public frequently doesn't wear transceivers. This event ran well over 1/2 mile in length and had stauchwalls with about 40ft of deposition. The slide ran full track, crossed Granite Creek and snapped old mature lodgepole stands.
Some of the largest avalanche events in 20 years were reported to have occurred in the Sheep Creek Drainage of the Wyoming Range during this storm cycle. On Sunday, two snowmobilers were caught in an avalanche on the Greys River Road. Their airbags deployed and they survived unharmed. Their sleds were swept into the Greys River.
Sunday afternoon an avalanche occurred in the Bull of the Woods path in Hoback Canyon. This was a slide of historic size in this huge avalanche path. Debris crossed the Hoback River, climbed the hill and deposited snow from the dust cloud and tree branches on US 191 highway. The event caused the Wyoming Department of Transportation to close the highway in Hoback Canyon between Bondurant and Hoback Junction for several hours. Crews got the highway reopened around 7PM.
Click here for more information about recent avalanches: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center (click on the Events Map link for details about specific slides)
Related Links
ABS Avalanche Airbag video - Youtube video showing spectacular scenery and steep snow terrain action footage and actual use of a backpack airbag that helped a skier survive being caught in a large avalanche. Backpack airbags are used by skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers to help survive an avalanche.
www.wyoroad.info - WYDOT Road Condition reports. Latest road conditions also available by calling 511 or 1-888-996-7623
NRCS SNOTEL website - Wyoming snow depth measurements
Pinedale Weather forecast - National Weather Service
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