Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p>A big dump of new snow with strong winds means that human triggered avalanches are likely today. The Fisher Creek SNOTEL site is showing 18” (1.8” <a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/null/?cid=nrcseprd1314… Water Equivalent</u></a>) of snow over the last 48 hours and we’ve received reports of substantially more snow at higher elevations. You could trigger an avalanche within the new snow (especially in wind drifts), on a layer of weak snow in the middle of the snowpack, or on weak snow at the ground. Don’t get caught up in the details - with so much new snow, wherever a slide breaks it will be large and dangerous. Keep it simple. Stay off of and out from under any slope steeper than 30 degrees. Human triggered avalanches are likely and the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE. </p>
<p>With a foot of fresh snow (1.1” SWE) and strong southwest winds avalanches will break easily today on wind loaded slopes. Expect to trigger avalanches within the new snow and they could also break on the weak layers near the ground (<a href="https://youtu.be/7EEn6f8-4fA"><strong><u>video</u></strong></a>). Look out for and avoid steep wind-loaded slopes. If you aren’t confident in identifying wind-loaded slopes, just avoid all steep slopes. The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes. On slopes without wind-drifted snow avalanches are possible and the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</p>
<p>Seven inches of new snow (0.7” SWE) isn’t enough to spike the danger, but does mean it’s possible to trigger dangerous avalanches on steep slopes that are either wind drifted or have weak snow at the base of the snowpack (<a href="https://youtu.be/2rjpm0iLm_I"><strong><u>Tepee Basin video</u></strong></a>). Look out for particularly deep wind-drifts or slopes where a small slide could pile up deeper in a gully or push you into obstacles. Human triggered avalanches are possible and the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</p>
<p>Fresh wind drifts are the primary concern near Bozeman and Big Sky. Yesterday, Alex and Doug triggered a small wind slab while looking at the snowpack on Saddle Peak (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MhpDHnH8So"><strong><u>video</u></stro…;). With new snow and strong to extreme winds overnight, expect to find fresh reactive wind drifts on many slopes. While the lower snowpack is generally stable (<a href="https://youtu.be/cf-qqv2Ssjw"><strong><u>Buck Ridge video</u></strong></a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/ePMCJs3qAs0"><strong><u>Beehive video</u></strong></a>), yesterday, Big Sky Ski Patrol used explosives to trigger a 5 ft deep avalanche that broke on weak snow near the ground. Let this be a wake up call and reminder to not discount the basal weak layers that exist across our advisory area. The avalanche danger is rated MODERATE on wind-loaded slopes and LOW on all others.</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>
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Upcoming Education Opportunities:
Get your avalanche brain ready for the season at one of the many classes listed on our education calendar, and list of upcoming events below.
Every Saturday near Cooke City, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. FREE snowpack update and transceiver/rescue training. Stop by for 20 minutes or more at the Round Lake Warming Hut.
