We finally got a day with good visibility, and verified last weekend's forecast High danger rating.

This large triggered hard slab avalanche occurred during the active holiday week 12-26-07.  Apparently, the avalanche was triggered by snowmobilers from the ridge in white-out conditions.  Cornice Ridge is a popular snowmobiling and early season skiing slope on the Bear River Range Crest south of Naomi Peak.

The east and northeast facing slope at about 9600' is heavily loaded from westerly winds.

Partially obscured by fresh snow that fell on the New Years eve storm, the broad avalanche was several hundred feet wide.

From a distance the impressive crown on the north side of the avalanche looks at least 8 feet deep.

We noticed evidence of numerous other smaller natural avalanches and cornice falls in the region.

Found a deep slab of fairly new snow.  Facets from Oct. and Nov. are now deeply buried.

White Pine Chutes, North Facing at 8800'