21-22

<p>Avalanches are possible to trigger where recent snow is drifted into slabs up to 1-2 feet thick. The brief storm that ended yesterday morning left 6-9” of heavy snow near Bozeman (0.8-1.3” <a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/null/?cid=nrcseprd1314… Water Equivalent</a>) with 5-6” near Big Sky (0.5<strong>-</strong>0.6” SWE), and reports of over a foot in the southern Madison Range. Yesterday I skied north of Bridger Bowl out-of-bounds and saw no avalanche activity or cracking in the new snow. Riders on Buck Ridge near Big Sky reported similar signs that the new snow was bonding well. Remain cautious of steep, wind-loaded slopes, especially if you see wind transporting snow today, or other signs of instability like cracking across the snow surface or fresh avalanches.</p>

<p>A layer of surface hoar was buried prior to this storm in the southern half of our advisory area which could make avalanches easier to trigger (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlREIgIkphs"><strong>Taylor Fork video</strong></a>). Before riding steep slopes dig and do a quick stability test to look for unstable weak layers buried below the recent snow. Although unlikely, a much larger avalanche breaking on weak snow near the bottom of the snowpack could be triggered by a smaller wind slab or cornice fall. Today avalanches are possible, and danger is MODERATE on wind-loaded slopes and LOW on all other slopes.</p>

<p>The recent storm dropped 3-4” (0.3” SWE) of snow near Cooke City and West Yellowstone&nbsp;with reports of a few more inches of low-density snow in areas north of Cooke City. This is minimal weight added to a generally stable snowpack (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prTjkcoK4SI&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2…;), and without much wind to create thicker unstable slabs, large avalanches are unlikely today. Yesterday&nbsp;riders north of Cooke City reported a few small natural and human triggered loose snow avalanches (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25583">photos and details</a></strong>). Watch out for loose snow avalanches or isolated drifts in very steep terrain, above cliffs, or slopes where getting knocked off your feet by a small avalanche would have high consequences. Overall, large avalanches are unlikely and the avalanche danger is 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>

<p>A foot of fresh snow (1.3” of <a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/null/?cid=nrcseprd1314… Water Equivalent</u></a>) and moderate to strong west winds have built 2-3 ft deep wind drifts that will be easily triggered today across much of the Bridger Range. The area around Bridger Bowl got half as much new snow and will have thinner drifts. Look out for and avoid steep wind-loaded slopes. Don’t let powder fever take over. Stick to lower angled slopes and give the new snow time to settle and bond. An additional concern is the weak snow at the ground which just got stressed by a big load of new snow. If a slide broke on these lower layers it would be much larger and even more dangerous. Triggering avalanches is likely on windloaded slopes, where the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE. On non-windloaded slopes the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</p>

<p>Five to 8” of new snow drifting into cohesive slabs means it is possible to trigger 1-2 ft deep avalanches today. In the southern ranges this new snow fell onto a freshly buried surface hoar layer (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlREIgIkphs"><strong><u>Taylor Fork video</u></strong></a>), which will make avalanches break more easily. Non-windloaded slopes don’t have a thick or cohesive enough slab of new snow for it to be problematic. Cracks shooting out in front of your skis or sled indicate you’ve found a slope with a reactive wind slab. The avalanche danger is MODERATE on windloaded slopes and LOW elsewhere.</p>

<p>Only 2-3” of snow fell in the Lionhead area and near Cooke City. This is not enough new snow to increase the avalanche hazard. Watch out in very steep terrain where getting knocked off your feet by a small avalanche would be problematic and also be on alert if you find an isolated area with deeper drifts where you could trigger a larger slide. Overall, large avalanches are unlikely and the avalanche danger is 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><u>websi…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong><u>mtavalanche@gmail.com</u></str…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>