21-22

<p>Strong west winds drifted this weekend’s new snow into cohesive slabs that broke in small avalanches. Yesterday, multiple small wind slab avalanches were triggered while climbers approached ice climbs in Hyalite (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/ice-climbing-avalanche"><strong><…;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/small-avalanche-hyalite"><strong>…;). These drifts can still be triggered today. As more snow falls new drifts will form and the number of places you can trigger a slide will increase. These drifts of new snow are the primary concern today and through this next storm. Carefully assess the snowpack and consider the consequences of a slide before exposing yourself to steep, recently wind-loaded slopes. Cracks shooting out in front of you are bullseye data that you’ve found an unstable drift.</p>

<p>On higher elevation shady slopes a 1-2 ft deep layered snowpack has developed. On Saturday, as Dave and Alex put up the Flanders Mt. Weather Station in Hyalite, they started out on dirt at the trailhead but up high they found several feet of snow including weak layers that broke in stability tests (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovtaZJ04WpE"><strong><u>video</u></stro…;). We have received reports of these weak layers across the advisory area (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/sites/default/files/styles/very_large_1200w… 1</u></strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/shallow-snowpack-bridger-range"><stro… 2</u></strong></a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/oF8q1tMQuh8"><strong><u>video</u></strong></a&gt; from Cooke City) and in nearby ranges (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/shallow-snowpack-9200-ft-emigrant… of snowpack on Emigrant</u></strong></a>, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/faceted-snow-under-wind-board-970… 2</u></strong></a>). As more new snow piles up, avalanches will start breaking on these weak layers. Dig down and search for these weak layers on any slope with continuous snow cover.&nbsp;</p>

<p>We appreciate all the observations we have already received this season. You are helping us develop a more complete understanding of this season’s snowpack! Please submit observations <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>here<…;

<p>If you have avalanche, snowpack or weather observations to share please submit them via our&nbsp;<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>