23-24

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Yesterday was the third day in a row with reports of avalanches and widespread collapsing of the snowpack. A skier triggered and was not caught in a slide at Bridger Bowl in terrain that is currently the backcountry (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/23/skier-triggered-avalanche-super-c…;), natural avalanches were reported in Beehive Basin (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29458"><span><span><span><strong><span…;), Taylor Fork (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29455"><span><span><span><strong><span…;) and Cooke City (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/23/avalanche-henderson-mtn"><span><s…;), and skiers near West Yellowstone (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29454"><span><span><span><strong><span…;) and Cooke City (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29430"><span><span><span><strong><span…;) and climbers in Hyalite experienced large collapses (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29460"><span><span><span><strong><span…;).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Across our forecast area the snowpack is unstable, and a person can easily trigger a dangerous avalanche. Slopes that had snow on the ground prior to last week’s new snow are the most dangerous, especially where recent strong winds also drifted snow into thicker slabs over the old snow. Snow that survived on the ground during November became faceted, sugary and weak and is struggling to support the weight of recent snow. We show this in our field videos over the last week from Bridger, Hyalite, Island Park, Cooke City and Lionhead (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXu5151nmAvSH326zVaU9KXJAPtvkIt-…;). Many </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/snow-observations-list"><span><span><span><… observations</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> also show signs of instability and support the need to travel cautiously in the mountains.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Now is not the time to travel on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Avalanches that break on the old snow can be triggered from low angle terrain that is connected to steep slopes, so also consider terrain that is above and adjacent to you. With the recent gusty winds (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/23/windy-bridgers"><span><span><span…;), all wind-loaded slopes are suspect today. Be especially cautious of steep slopes that have fresh drifts, and any slope where there is old snow below last week’s snow.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Throughout our forecast area, human triggered avalanches are likely and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>