21-22

<p>The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center is issuing an avalanche warning for the Centennial Mountains outside Island Park, Idaho. The avalanche danger is HIGH on all slopes. Natural and human-triggered slides are very likely.&nbsp;A large amount of new snow with strong wind are creating unstable conditions over a wide area.&nbsp;Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Backcountry travelers should stay off of steep slopes and stay away from the bottom of steep slopes. Avalanches can be triggered from flat terrain. Steep slopes can avalanche far above and run into lower angled terrain. <a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/forecast/centennials"><u>www.mtavalanche.com…; for more detailed information.</p>

<p>This week’s storm has a bull’s eye painted on the West Yellowstone area with Lionhead, and the Southern Madison and Southern Gallatin Ranges feeling the effects with 21” equal to 1.8-2” of snow water equivalent (SWE) since Saturday. Strong winds and another blast of snow today are creating dangerous avalanche conditions on all slopes. When we rode Lionhead on Monday, we found heavily wind-drifted slopes already struggling with the weight of the new snow. One large drift expressed this instability with a loud collapse or “whumph” (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo9-92FngRA&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2…;). At the same time, skiers in the Taylor Fork triggered wind drifts on a test slope that broke as a small, but thick slab avalanche (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/thick-wind-slabs-taylor-fork"><st…;). Continued snowfall throughout the day will increase the danger.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making are essential. The danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes.</p>

<p>Cooke City has received 15” of snow since Saturday equal to 1.5” of SWE with strong winds stripping some slopes and loading others. Last week, Alex and Ian found weak layers buried deeply in the snowpack (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nt5LOMI1PQ"><strong><u>Cooke City video 1</u></strong></a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/O29XGDZBL8c"><strong><u>Cooke City video 2</u></strong></a>). These weak layers have not produced avalanches or propagated in unstable test scores yet, and our primary concern revolves around steep slopes with the added weight of wind-loaded snow. Avoid wind-loaded slopes and dig down to assess whether deeper weak layers are nearing their breaking point as continued snowfall adds weight and stress to the snowpack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Heightened avalanche conditions exist on wind-loaded slopes. On non-wind-loaded slopes, slab avalanches are unlikely. Watch for signs of decreasing stability as today’s snow adds up. The danger is rated MODERATE on wind-loaded slopes and LOW on all others.</p>

<p>With the exception of slopes loaded by the recent wind (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyl9dBUt0u4&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2… video</u></strong></a>), the snowpack in the mountains around Bozeman and Big Sky is generally stable. Yesterday in the Bridger Range, we found some slopes stripped down to the dirt and small areas with drum-like wind-slabs. This weekend, climbers in the gullies of Hyalite observed shooting cracks in localized drifts and had them collapse under their feet (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/propagating-cracks-along-top-and-…;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/cracking-drifts-hyalite"><strong>…;, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=065JmnekjVs&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2… Hyalite gullies video</u></strong></a>). We are finding weak facets on some slopes, but they will not be a concern until they are loaded with significant new snow (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/thin-snowpack-hyalite"><strong><u… of weak snow in Hyalite</u></strong></a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yJ1-BzM8Eg&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2… video</u></strong></a>). The 5-7” in the forecast today is unlikely to tip the scales but watch for signs of decreasing stability as today’s snow adds up.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The avalanche danger is 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>

<p>The mountains near West Yellowstone, southern Madison and southern Gallatin Range are in the direct path of the incoming storm. Snowfall is expected this morning and will continue into Wednesday. Avalanche danger will begin to increase today, especially on wind loaded slopes where continued strong winds will blow snow into thick drifts. Yesterday Dave and his partner rode into Lionhead Ridge and had a thick drift collapse and “whumph” beneath their skis (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo9-92FngRA&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2…;). Skiers in the Taylor Fork sent this <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/thick-wind-slabs-taylor-fork-0">p…; of a thick wind drift that broke on a small slope. Drifts of snow that formed from recent southerly winds overloaded weak layers and made the snowpack unstable. These drifts will continue to grow and become more unstable with new snow and strong wind today, and it will become likely for riders and skiers to trigger these drifts and cause avalanches on steep slopes. Be prepared to avoid steep, wind-loaded slopes today as they become more unstable.</p>

<p>Today, new snow and strong wind will increase the avalanche danger to CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and MODERATE on all other slopes.</p>

<p>In the mountains near Bozeman, Big Sky and Cooke City recent strong southerly winds created unstable drifts that can avalanche under the weight of a person (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyl9dBUt0u4&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2… of strong wind</strong></a>). Yesterday multiple groups of climbers in Hyalite reported large drifts that cracked and “whumphed” under their feet (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/propagating-cracks-along-top-and-…;, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/cracking-drifts-hyalite">photo</a…;). These drifts formed above weak, sugary snow which means they will remain possible to trigger for a couple days (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/thin-snowpack-hyalite">photo of weak snow in Hyalite</a></strong>). The strong southerly winds formed drifts on many aspects, near ridgelines, across the middle of slopes, and locations where we don’t usually expect snow to be drifted into slabs. If you see cracking snow around your feet, stay off steep, wind-loaded slopes, especially where the consequences of getting caught in a slide involve being pushed into rocks, trees, gullies, or cliffs. Even without clear signs of instability, remain skeptical of wind-loaded slopes today (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=065JmnekjVs&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2… Hyalite gullies video</strong></a>).</p>

<p>On slopes that are not wind-loaded the snowpack is generally stable. There are weak layers that are worth digging to look for and assess, but they are of little concern until we receive more snow (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yJ1-BzM8Eg&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2… video</strong></a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nt5LOMI1PQ"><strong>Cooke City video 1</strong></a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/O29XGDZBL8c"><strong>Cooke City video 2</strong></a>).</p>

<p>Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE on wind-loaded slopes and LOW on all other slopes.</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>