21-22

<p>Avalanches breaking 1-3 ft deep beneath this week’s new snow are the primary concern today, particularly where strong winds have blown loose surface snow into new and deeper drifts. Strong southwest winds today will actively be forming new drifts. Skiers south of town yesterday got unstable test results on the new snow - old snow interface, showing that the potential for triggering slides exists. There are also weak layers lower in the snowpack that are worth looking for and evaluating before riding steep slopes (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nt5LOMI1PQ"><strong><u>video</u></stro…;, <a href="https://youtu.be/O29XGDZBL8c"><strong><u>video</u></strong></a&gt;).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Human triggered avalanches are possible and the avalanche danger is MODERATE today.</p>

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<p>Avalanches breaking in wind drifts are also the number one concern near Bozeman, Big Sky, and West Yellowstone. Yesterday, Alex found thin fresh wind drifts in the Bridger Range that were very easily triggered (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHEVrAd_rvI"><strong><u>video</u></stro…;). While the drifts he found were thin and harmless, deeper drifts pose a very real hazard. Even in places without new snow, increasingly strong winds have formed fresh drifts. The strong winds mean these drifts may have formed in atypical locations, mid-slope or further below ridgelines than usual. Be on the look out for pillows of drifted snow. If there are any signs these drifts are reactive, steer clear of them on steep slopes. Even if they’re not giving you any warning signs, keep up a healthy skepticism (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=065JmnekjVs&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2… Hyalite gullies video</u></strong></a>).</p>

<p>On non-windloaded slopes, conditions are mostly stable. There are weak layers that we’ll be monitoring, but they are not currently a major concern (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yJ1-BzM8Eg&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2… video</u></strong></a>).</p>

<p>The avalanche danger today 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><u>websi…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong><u>mtavalanche@gmail.com</u></str…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>