21-22

<p>This weekend, the mountains around Cooke City received 7” of snow equaling 1.0” of snow water equivalent, the Southern Madison Range got 2” (0.2” SWE) and the rest of the forecast area remained dry. West to southwest winds gusting 50-65 mph drifted any available soft snow.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you are traveling through the snow-covered mountains consider the following:</p>

<ul>
<li>Skiers have already triggered and been caught in avalanches this year (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/24969"><strong><u>details</u></strong>…; from the Fairy Lake area).</li>
<li>We have a layered snowpack that is capable of producing avalanches throughout the region. Skiers in Cooke City are finding a weak structure and getting unstable test scores. These instabilities will be exacerbated by new and wind drifted snow from the weekend (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/snowpit-fisher-creek-ectv"><stron…;). A natural avalanche occurred on Saddle Peak on a wind-loaded slope below the ridgeline last Wednesday (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/natural-avalanche-saddle-peak-0">…;). Skier found drifts of snow that failed and propagated in the Bridgers late last week (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/wind-slab-near-fairy-lake"><stron…;).</li>
<li>New snow, especially in Cooke City, and strong winds across the advisory loaded the snowpack this weekend.</li>
<li>If you are on a slope steeper than 30 degrees, you are in avalanche terrain. It is irrelevant if you are snowmobiling, snowboarding, skiing, climbing, hunting, or making snow angels. Carry rescue gear and utilize safe travel protocols.</li>
<li>Our early season mindset is one of conservative, information gathering as we get to know our new snowpack. Help us help you by sending in observations <a href="https://mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_obs"><strong><u>here</u></strong>…;
<li>Now is the perfect time to refresh your avalanche brain by signing up for a class. Find a list of all local classes on our <a href="https://mtavalanche.com/education_calendar"><strong><u>education calendar</u></strong></a>.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<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>

<p>Snow since last Friday deposited 1-1.5 feet of snow in the mountains equal to 1.0-2.4” of <a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/null/?cid=nrcseprd1314… water equivalent</a> (SWE). This new snow and the snow that fell in October have created a layered snowpack which will cause avalanches.</p>

<p>Last weekend&nbsp;near Fairy Lake a skier triggered and was caught in a small slough and was luckily unharmed (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/24969">details</a></strong&gt;). On Wednesday, near Cooke City a skier found a layer of weak snow buried below the recent snow which collapsed very easily in a stability test (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/snowpit-fisher-creek-ectv">photo<…;), and on Saddle Peak in the Bridger Range a natural avalanche broke on a wind-loaded slope below the ridgeline (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/natural-avalanche-saddle-peak-0">…;).</p>

<p>The snow that fell in October turned into crusts and weak snow, and it provides a layer that last week’s snow can break and slide on. Additionally, wind over the last week drifted new snow into thick slabs that can break under the weight of skiers or riders (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/wind-slab-near-fairy-lake">photo<…;, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/wind-affected-snow-near-cooke-cit…;). This weekend strong winds will continue to drift snow, adding weight to existing drifts and growing fresh drifts. Avoid steep, wind-loaded slopes, especially where new snow and fresh drifts lay over older October snow. If you have any notion the snow might avalanche, ride terrain that is less steep than 30 degrees and not connected to anything steep above.</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>website<…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong>mtavalanche@gmail.com</strong></a…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>