23-24

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Dangerous avalanche conditions exist and large human triggered avalanches are likely.&nbsp; Snowfall earlier this week pushed the snowpack past its breaking point. Alex rode around the motorized zone yesterday and reported that it was “maybe the most widespread large activity I have ever seen” (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31331"><span><span><span><strong><span…;).&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Thursday’s snowmobile triggered slide on Henderson Mountain was even bigger than we initially reported, breaking over 2000 ft wide and all the way up to the ridgeline, generally 6-10 ft deep and 12-15 ft deep in the deepest section (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F4hYSm-iEY"><span><span><span><strong>… video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Two more very large slides were likely triggered by snowmobiles yesterday on different faces of Scotch Bonnet Mountain (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31345"><span><span><span><strong><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31357"><span><span><span><strong><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kyGpQxAs2A"><span><span><span><strong>… Bonnet video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). We expect more of the same today. Avoid riding on any slope steeper than 30 degrees and give them a wide berth as you pass beneath them as well.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Triggering large avalanches is a very real and dangerous possibility today. The likelihood of triggering slides has marginally decreased over the last couple days without snowfall, but the potential size and consequences of triggering a slide have not. Close calls in Beehive Basin and on Saddle Peak yesterday drive home the seriousness of conditions right now.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Yesterday, skiers in Beehive Basin triggered an avalanche that broke 500 ft wide and up to 6 ft deep by dropping a section of cornice onto a slope (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31343"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><em><span>This slide took out the skin track up the face they had just broken on the ascent. </span></em></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Slides breaking on these deeper weak layers are likely to be unsurvivable, regardless of any terrain considerations.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Somewhat smaller avalanches breaking in wind drifted snow could also have devastating consequences in the wrong spot. Two skiers, at different times yesterday, triggered avalanches on Saddle Peak (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31330"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). The larger slide initially broke about a foot deep, but then triggered a secondary slab that broke 1-3 ft deep and 200 ft wide before running over the large main cliff band. Thankfully the skier was not caught and did not take this unsurvivable ride and no one happened to be beneath the cliffs as the debris came down from above.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>If you are considering stepping out into steeper terrain, our recommendation is to ease into lower-consequence terrain and religiously follow safe travel protocols in case something goes wrong. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>To be crystal clear, skiing on Saddle Peak is the antithesis of these recommendations with large, steep slopes, and big cliffs, and other groups likely to be both above and below you.</span></span></strong></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is rated MODERATE today.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>