19-20

<p>Winds picked up yesterday, building fresh drifts that can be triggered by a skier or rider today. Skiers in the Bridger Range yesterday saw rapid wind loading near the ridge. Be skeptical of any recently wind-loaded slope and steer clear of fresh drifts. If you feel the snow surface stiffen and see cracks shoot out in front of you, you’ve found one of these drifts and should carefully retreat out of steep terrain.</p>

<p>Avalanches can also break on weak layers buried 2-3 feet deep. It’s worth digging down to look for these weak layers, as not every slope has them. Yesterday, Doug found good stability on a west facing slope in Beehive Basin with a number of ice crusts in the upper snowpack that were well bonded (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j2Y8NWOuHs&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvSbcbVf…;), but noted that other slopes have surface hoar or near surface facets instead. Skiers near Ross Pass yesterday got a big collapse on facets near an ice crust as they stepped out of their skis to dig a snowpit (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/22653">details</a></strong&gt;). They took that clear sign of instability as a clue to avoid steep terrain and chose an alternative, mellower, route back to the trailhead. Just to the south, a different group found buried surface hoar and got unstable test results. A collapse and unstable test results are evidence that the potential still exists to trigger avalanches on these layers. Careful analysis of these layers is needed before committing to steep terrain.</p>

<p>Temperatures are going to rise another 5 degrees warmer than yesterday. With sunny skies this afternoon, the snow surface will become wet, lose cohesion and become unstable. Watch for roller balls and pinwheels as clues that this process is starting. Plan to be off steep, sun exposed slopes by early afternoon to avoid triggering a wet snow avalanche.</p>

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<p>The avalanche danger is rated MODERATE across our advisory area.</p>

<p>We are ending daily avalanche forecasts <strong>tomorrow</strong> Sunday, April 5^th and will post general weather and avalanche bulletins every Monday and Friday through April. Continue to send us your observations. You can fill out an observation form, email us (mtavalanche@gmail.com), leave a VM at 406-587-6984, or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>

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<p>With warmer temperatures, sunny skies, more than a foot of new snow this week and buried weak layers, we have a number of different avalanche concerns today (<a href="https://youtu.be/s5ED_1T3leE"><strong>video</strong></a&gt;).</p>

<p>All our concerns today are within the upper snowpack. Three different groups of skiers triggered avalanches yesterday within the new snow in the Bridger Range (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/22644">details</a></strong&gt;) and a small natural was seen near Cooke City (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/natural-new-snow-cooke">photo</a>…;). Even more slides were reported the day before (see full list <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><strong>here</strong></…;). While instabilities within the new snow will be healing, you could still trigger a similar slide today, particularly on wind-loaded slopes. Be wary of wind-loaded pockets and watch for cracks shooting out from your skis as a sign the new snow remains unstable.</p>

<p>You could also trigger a slide on weak layers buried 2-3 feet deep. Depending on the slope you’ll find surface hoar, near surface facets, or an ice crust with poor bonding. It doesn’t really matter what the weak layer consists of, it won’t stabilize as quickly as the new snow. With a patchy distribution, your best mitigation strategy is to dig down to look for and test these layers before getting into avalanche terrain.</p>

<p>With sunshine and warmer temperatures, wet avalanches are also a concern today, especially as the day heats up on sunny slopes. As the snow surface becomes wet and sticky, it’s time to move out of steep terrain. Roller balls and pinwheels are telltale signs that the snow is on its way to becoming wet and unstable.</p>

<p>With both wet and dry avalanches possible, the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE.</p>

<p>We are ending daily avalanche forecasts this Sunday, April 5^th and will post general weather and avalanche bulletins every Monday and Friday through April. Continue to send us your observations. You can fill out an observation form, email us (mtavalanche@gmail.com), leave a VM at 406-587-6984, or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>