21-22

<p>The snow that fell on Tuesday was blown into drifts&nbsp;by strong southwest winds. These drifts are the main avalanche hazard today, and most likely exist along ridgelines, below cornices, and on higher elevation slopes where they didn’t melt from the above freezing temperatures. Be cautious of steep, recently wind-loaded slopes which may be tempting to ski or ride because they hold the most snow right now. A few inches of snow on Saturday night with strong wind will create fresh drifts that could be easy to trigger during and immediately after they form.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Aside from the above described wind slabs, the snowpack is generally stable after the previous three days of warm, dry weather. However, this recent weather has done no favors for the snowpack in regards to snow depth and future stability. Many low elevation and southerly facing slopes have zero or only a few inches of snow. On higher and shadier slopes the snowpack is 10-20” deep and has layers of crusts and weak faceted snow. We have received reports of these weak layers across the advisory area&nbsp;(<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 surrounding mountains (<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>). This weak snow is important to remember because it will probably cause avalanches when we get our next big storm.... maybe next week.</p>

<p>We appreciate the observations you have submitted 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<…;. THINK SNOW!</p>

<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>

<p>While the long fall continues in the valleys of Southwest Montana, this season’s snowpack is developing in the mountains (albeit painfully slowly) and we are well into avalanche season. This weekend skiers in Beehive Basin and Hyalite Canyon observed small slab avalanches resulting from recent wind loading and pinwheels that indicate surface snow warming (<a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/windslab-and-pinwheels-beehive-basin-… photo</u></strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/small-wind-slab-avalanche-hyalite-can… 1</u></strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/shooting-cracks-mt-blackmore"><strong…;). Strong winds through the middle of the week will drift soft snow into unstable slabs that you should avoid. The better coverage found on wind-drifted slopes may entice us, but this is where avalanches are most likely to occur.</p>

<p>While the snowpack structure varies on the slope scale, we know weak layers, like the one that Alex describes in his <a href="https://youtu.be/oF8q1tMQuh8"><strong><u>video</u></strong></a&gt; from Cooke City, exist across the advisory area. Skiers are reporting them from snowpits in the Bridger, Gallatin, and Madison Ranges (<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…;). Carefully evaluate snowpack stability and the consequences of getting caught in an avalanche with sharp rocks just inches below you. Terrain traps such as trees, cliffs, rocks, and gullies exacerbate these consequences.</p>

<p>We appreciate the observations you all have submitted this season. You are helping us develop a more complete understanding of this season’s snowpack by submitting observations <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>here<…;. Now, THINK SNOW!</p>

<p>We are preparing for winter, teaching avalanche classes, and setting up weather stations. 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>