21-22

<p>It has been almost two days since heavy snowfall ended, and strong southwest winds have decreased to moderate. Over the last two days skiers and riders near Cooke City saw a handful of avalanches that broke on wind-loaded slopes during the storm on Thursday through Saturday&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/natural-near-lulu-pass-north-scot…;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/natural-avalanche-republic-crk"><…;, <strong><a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25458">details</a></strong&gt;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25432"><strong>details</strong></a&gt;). All these slides failed 1-3 feet deep within the recent snow that fell. Today it is possible for a skier or rider to trigger avalanches similar to these, especially on recently wind-loaded slopes. Avalanches could break deeper and wider on weak layers near the bottom of the snowpack. These larger slides are becoming less likely, but we’re not free of worry until we are further from the recent storm without seeing any of these deeper slides. Before riding steep slopes carefully assess the snowpack for signs of wind-loading and potential buried weak layers. Today avalanches are possible to trigger, and avalanche danger is MODERATE.</p>

<p>Yesterday in Beehive Basin a skier triggered a cornice from a ridgeline that created an avalanche on a heavily wind-loaded slope. Nobody was caught or harmed (<strong><a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25463">photos and details</a></strong>). Doug and his partner were skiing in Beehive Basin and saw recent strong wind had transported all the snow it could (<strong><a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/sastrugi-wind-sculpted-snow">photo…;), and they found a layer of small facets that was buried by recent snow and wind drifts (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bHDClbuKT8&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2…;). Today it is possible to trigger recently formed drifts of snow, especially if they formed on top of this recently buried&nbsp;weak layer. Avalanches could also break deeper in the snowpack on weak layers near the ground, particularly near West Yellowstone and in the southern Madison and southern Gallatin ranges where there has been more snow and more avalanches occurred earlier this season on these deeper layers.</p>

<p>Before riding steep slopes assess potential for unstable drifts and be certain there are no potentially unstable buried weak layers. Human triggered avalanches are possible, and the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</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>