Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p>Today near Cooke City dangerous avalanche conditions will develop. More new snow will add weight to an already unstable snowpack and make large human triggered avalanches likely. A weak layer of snow is buried 1.5-2 feet deep, and since Tuesday these mountains received steady snowfall adding up to more than a foot which was drifted into thicker slabs by strong west winds. Today these slabs will grow larger and be easy to trigger. They can be deadly on their own or break deeper and much larger on buried weak layers. The avalanche that killed a snowbike rider yesterday is unfortunate, clear evidence that the snowpack has become dangerously unstable (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25906">limited details</a></strong>). In addition, yesterday a skier intentionally triggered a medium sized avalanche on a wind-loaded slope near town (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25905">photo and details</a></strong>). These types of avalanches will be more likely today. Avoid travel on and below slopes steeper than 30 degrees, especially if they are wind-loaded. The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.</p>
<p>Near Bozeman and Big Sky it is possible to trigger avalanches in the 8-17” of snow that fell since Tuesday. Be especially cautious of wind-loaded slopes where this snow was drifted into thicker slabs. On Thursday and Friday we visited Hyalite (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdc8xGBt5RU&list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2…;), Buck Ridge (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyJv7snrlDM">video</a>), and the Bridger Range (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIJ0t3fBQDo">video</a>) where we saw natural avalanches that broke in the new snow on wind-loaded slopes (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/small-avalanche-buck-ridge">Buck photo</a>, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25891">Divide photo</a>, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25875">Bridgers details</a>), and we intentionally triggered a couple small drifts from the ridgeline of Divide Peak (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25892">photos and details</a>). These types of slides are possible today, and there is a chance they could break larger on buried weak layers. More snow today could add weight to recent drifts or form fresh drifts that could be small, but easier to trigger. Carefully assess the stability of recent drifts and new snow before riding steep slopes. Avalanche danger is MODERATE.</p>
<p>In the southern Madison, southern Gallatin and near West Yellowstone a layer of weak faceted snow is buried 6-12” deep which makes avalanches possible where wind has drifted recent snow into a thicker slab on top. On non-wind loaded slopes large avalanches are unlikely, but a shallow, small slab could break wide on the buried weak layer and be hazardous in consequential terrain. Ian rode in Taylor Fork yesterday and found unstable snowpack test results on this layer for the first time in weeks (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFEJr_sb62A&list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2…;). It needs a little more load on top to create a widespread instability, but you should dig to look for it and test it before riding steep slopes and carefully assess slopes for recent wind-loading. If more snow falls today than is expected danger will rise. Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE on wind-loaded slopes, and LOW on all other slopes.</p>
<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong>website<…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong>mtavalanche@gmail.com</strong></a…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>
