22-23

<p>In the mountains around Bozeman, Big Sky and Cooke City, human-triggered avalanches are possible on slopes where slabs of drifted snow sit on top of weak layers in the upper three feet of the snowpack. Yesterday, Doug looked for this type of instability at the Throne in the Bridger Range and found it, noting that we must be aware of wind slabs over weak layers (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyyIkK4igCI"><strong><span>video</span>…;). We noted similar concerns during recent field days in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uVGnUshKhY"><strong><span>Hyalite</spa… href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uVGnUshKhY"><span&gt; </span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uVGnUshKhY"><strong><span>Canyon</span…; </strong>and at <a href="https://youtu.be/XTrscbqcELU"><strong><span>Buck Ridge</span></strong></a>. Without significant active wind loading, you must recognize <em>recent </em>drifts as areas of concern by noting pillows of snow or a stiffening, hollow feel to the snow surface. Slopes below overhanging ledges of snow called cornices are likely wind-loaded. As the season progresses, cornices grow and can unpredictably collapse far from the edge. A group on Mount Blackmore got a fright when one broke near their feet this weekend (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28099"><strong><span>observation</span…;). Rule wind-loaded slopes out of your travel plan or dig and test for instability related to underlying weak layers.</p>

<p>On non-wind-loaded slopes, triggering an avalanche is unlikely. Dig down three feet and test for instability before going into avalanche terrain, carry rescue gear, expose only one team member at a time to avalanche terrain and watch partners from a safe location if they travel on steep slopes.</p>

<p>Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE on wind-loaded slopes and LOW on all others.</p>

<p>Avalanches are unlikely in the Southern Gallatin and Southern Madison Ranges and the Lionhead area, where conditions are much more stable than two weeks ago when Doug and Ian triggered an avalanche from 50 feet away (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27941"><strong><span>video and observation</span></strong></a>). Since then, the frequency of slides has decreased. One week ago, riders noted a natural avalanche on the west face of Sage Peak in the Taylor Fork (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28038"><strong><span>observation</span…;). A day later, an avalanche on Two Top partially buried a sled (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28042"><strong><span>observation</span…;). And the last reported avalanche from the area occurred on Thursday near Tepee Basin when a rider triggered an avalanche on a small slope (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28079"><strong><span>observation</span…;). Riding at Lionhead on Saturday, Alex noted improved stability (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-QVCM1CUWs&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvTi1DBS…;

<p>While conditions are generally safe, adhere to the fundamentals of avalanche safety because certainty is impossible to come by in steep, snow-covered mountains. Dig three to four feet deep and test weak layers for isolated areas of instability, carry rescue gear and expose only one team member at a time to avalanche terrain while watching partners from safe locations (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBK444Tjh9I"><strong><span>Taylor Fork video</span></strong></a>). The avalanche danger is LOW.</p>

<p>Snow returns to the area tonight. As snow falls, the danger increases.</p>

<p>Please share avalanche, snowpack or weather observations via our<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_obs"><span&gt; </span></a><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_obs"><strong><span>website</s…;, email (<strong>mtavalanche@gmail.com</strong>), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs). <span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span>Conditions are generally safe in the mountains in Island Park. Adhere to the fundamentals because certainty is impossible to come by in steep, snow-covered mountains. Dig and test weak layers in the upper three feet of the snowpack for isolated instability, carry rescue gear (beacon, shovel and probe) and expose only one team member at a time to avalanche terrain. Snow returns to the area tonight and conditions will become more dangerous as the snow falls. </span></p>