21-22

<p>It is possible to trigger avalanches 1-2 feet deep in the mountains around Cooke City. Avalanches this weekend indicate that buried weak layers of facets and feathery surface hoar aren’t to be fully trusted. Saturday, riders triggered an avalanche that broke 2’ deep and 30’ wide on a north-facing slope and a group saw a skier-triggered slide north of Silver Gate (<a href="https://mtavalanche.com/node/25847"><strong>Silver Gate photo and details</strong></a>). On Friday, a cornice collapse triggered a slope just south of Cooke City (<a href="https://mtavalanche.com/node/25840"><strong>Wyoming Creek photo and details</strong></a>). Significant wind-loading late last week added stress to the snowpack and slopes with recent drifts are more likely to be unstable. Evaluate the snowpack and terrain carefully and turn around if you observe cracking, collapsing or recent avalanches. Finally, get your shovel in the snow to test the upper few feet of the snowpack before committing to avalanche terrain. The danger is MODERATE.</p>

<p>While conditions are generally safe in mountains around Bozeman, Big Sky and West Yellowstone, Doug mentioned yesterday that “it is not a turn your brain off type of low danger.” Isolated areas of instability exist due to buried weak layers and small drifts of snow. Yesterday, Doug and his partner skied into the wilderness area in the Taylor Fork. They got an unstable test result on a buried weak layer that caused them to change their minds about skiing in avalanche terrain (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MFatr0c108"><strong>video</strong></a&…;). He still felt like triggering an avalanche would be unlikely, but the risk wasn’t worth it for them. Getting this information is why we dig and test the snowpack. On Saturday, Alex saw a recent avalanche on Cedar Mountain on a wind-loaded slope during a ride at Buck Ridge (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRjBQLrFjFk&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2…;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/small-cornice-fall-cedar-mtn"><st…;).</p>

<p>Yesterday, small, wet snow avalanches occurred on isolated slopes in the Bridger Range. These are less likely today with increasing cloud cover but worth having on your radar if skies are clear and sunny during the heat of the day (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/small-loose-wet-avalanche-hyalite…;).</p>

<p>Follow standard avalanche safety protocols, watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features and remember that small slides are dangerous when combined with terrain traps. The avalanche danger is rated LOW.</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>