20-21

<p>We’re on the tail end of the first big storm cycle of the season. Triggering avalanches remains a very real possibility. With cold temperatures and continued blowing snow it will take several days for the hazard to significantly decrease.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During this storm we’ve seen avalanches and shooting cracks throughout the advisory area: in the Bridger Range (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/wind-slab-avalanche"><strong><u>p…;, </strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/cracking-frazier-basin"><strong><…;), on Mt Blackmore in the northern Gallatin Range (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/loose-avalanche-mt-blackmore"><st…;), near Cooke City, and on the Sphinx in the Madison Range (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/shooting-cracks-sphinx"><strong><…;). Wind drifted snow is the common theme between all these signs of instability. Slopes with drifted snow have the most continuous snow cover and are also where you are most likely to trigger avalanches. With shifting winds today and tomorrow, watch out for new slopes being loaded. Shooting cracks or recent avalanches are bullseye data that the snowpack is unstable. Watch Doug’s <a href="https://youtu.be/tpbI_mgWKJ4"><strong><u>video</u></strong><u&gt; </u></a>from the Sphinx for a good reminder to stay heads up, even though it’s early season.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Snow depths range from less than a foot at lower elevations to 2-3 feet at higher elevations in the northern ranges and around Cooke City. This is plenty of snow to cause a season ending avalanche. Despite it being October, because there is snow on the ground, normal mid-winter travel advice applies: bring a partner, travel one at a time in avalanche terrain, and make sure you’re carrying rescue gear (beacon, shove and probe) and know how to use it. Hunters, ice climbers, and skiers have all been caught in early season avalanches (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accidents"><u>accident reports</u></a>). Be cautious and stay safe, we have a long winter ahead.</p>

<p>We’ll be updating the <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/weather/wx-avalanche-log"><strong><u>weather log</u></strong></a>, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/photos"><strong><u>photos page</u></strong></a> and <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><strong><u>avalanche activity list</u></strong></a> daily and issuing early season updates throughout the fall as conditions merit. If you have avalanche, snowpack or weather observations to share, please submit them via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>websi…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong><u>mtavalanche@gmail.com</u></str…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>