23-24

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is HIGH in the southern mountains and an Avalanche Warning has been issued. Since Friday these mountains have gotten a little bit of snow each day totaling 12-18” (1” </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/snowpack/snowpack-observat…;). Wind in the last 36 hours has blown at all elevations further loading slopes. The snowpack is historically weak which is outlined in this </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/K_t6Fi6wUC4"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>… compilation</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>. Yesterday I was in Lionhead and found very poor stability in our snowpit at 8,000’, widespread cracking and collapsing at 8,300’ feet, and we intentionally triggered a 1,000’ wide avalanche at 8,600’ (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/QNkJeGFSPYs"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29836"><span><span><span><strong><span… and observation</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Our advice is simple: Do not go into or underneath avalanche terrain. Avalanches can be triggered from far away and they will be large and deadly. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The mountains around Bozeman and Big Sky have a couple feet of weak, faceted snow that is capped by 4-6” that fell since Saturday night (.4-.6” </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/snowpack/snowpack-observat…;). Strong and gusty wind has swirled and loaded slopes at all elevations. The interface between recent snow and older snow is unstable. Typically, 6” of snow over 4 days is nothing to worry about, but these are not typical times.&nbsp; My uncertainty regarding stability is high and I am worried. Given the wind and new snow, triggering avalanches is likely, especially slopes with a wind drift. Notch your travel plans back and be extra cautious and vigilant. Cracking, collapsing and avalanche activity are obvious signs to stay away from steep slopes. Today is not a day to push your luck. If you need evidence of the instability, check out our </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXu5151nmAvSH326zVaU9KXJAPtvkIt-… videos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><u><span><span> </span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>and </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/snow-observations-list"><span><span><span><… page</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>The avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>