23-24

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The snowpack is unstable and human-triggered avalanches are likely. Over the last week winds drifted new snow into cohesive slabs on top of a very weak snowpack (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/surface-hoar-stripe-underneath-sl… photo</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/large-buried-surface-hoar-layer">…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_t6Fi6wUC4&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvSH326z… of weak layers</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>).&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>There were natural avalanches mid-week near Cooke City (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29906"><span><span><span><strong><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29921"><span><span><span><strong><span…;) and Big Sky (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29873"><span><span><span><strong><span…;), and over the last few days skiers and riders triggered avalanches (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><span><span><span><stro… activity</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><u><span><span> </span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span><span>list</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Many recent avalanches were triggered remotely, from a distance, meaning you could trigger a slope from lower angle terrain adjacent to or below steeper slopes (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTnE5gzG1sc"><span><span><span><strong>… Fork video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/QNkJeGFSPYs"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>… video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29915"><span><span><span><strong><span… City photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>).&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>A break from snowfall and wind-loading is allowing snow stability to slowly improve, but the very weak snowpack means it remains easy to trigger a large avalanche. With persistent weak layers, as stability slowly improves snowpack evaluation becomes tricky. Snowpack tests may give false-stable results and a slope might allow multiple tracks before it breaks. Any slope has potential to slide if it has a cohesive, supportable slab sitting on top of weak, sugary snow.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Careful snowpack evaluation and cautious route finding are required. Be extra cautious of travel on or below slopes steeper than 30 degrees, especially previously wind-loaded slopes. Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Recent snow has drifted into slabs on top of a very weak snowpack (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJxMtiIQGbs"><span><span><span><strong>… Range video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Avalanches are possible to trigger, especially on wind-loaded slopes. Watch and feel for signs of wind drifting, such as cracking across the snow surface, cornices, or smooth rounded pillows of snow. Avoid steep slopes that have these signs. The weak snowpack can also cause facet sluffs that gouge deep into the snowpack and run long distances (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0LROtnc7Us"><span><span><span><strong>… Ridge video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Be cautious of long, sustained steep slopes where these may occur, especially if there are consequences like rocks, trees or cliffs. Carefully evaluate the snowpack and consequences of an avalanche before traveling on or below steep slopes. Avalanches are possible to trigger and the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The cold temperatures create higher consequences of an accident. Any bad situation can quickly become worse.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>