Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Southwest wind is drifting 4-5” of new snow into fresh wind slabs. These slabs can break under the weight of a person and avalanche on steep slopes, and possibly be large enough to bury or injure a person. It is also possible to trigger large or very large avalanches on weak layers buried up to 4 feet deep. In the southern mountains, the most recent avalanches of this type (that we know of) occurred last weekend in the southern Madison Range (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27474"><span><span><span><strong><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekL311py9yE&list=PLXu5151nmAvTi1DBS…;) and near Cooke City, including a tragic fatal avalanche on Crown Butte </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>(</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accident/22/12/31"><span><span><span><stron… report</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjGCqBikpRw&list=PLXu5151nmAvTi1DBS…;). New snow and fresh drifts will add weight to buried weak layers and make it possible to trigger a large, potentially destructive avalanche. Be extra cautious of wind-loaded slopes, such as near cornices along ridgelines, or where you see a wind-textured snow surface or rounded, thick deposits of snow. Watch for cracks shooting across the snow around your feet, skis or snow machine as a sign fresh drifts are unstable. Avalanche danger is MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Near Bozeman and Big Sky a person can trigger avalanches that break on weak layers buried 1-4 feet deep. On Saturday skiers in the northern Bridger Range saw a recent large natural avalanche (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/23/snowboarder-caught-small-slide"><…;), and on Friday a very large avalanche on Saddle Peak broke 550 feet wide and almost 2 feet deep on a buried weak layer (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/23/crown-close-saddle-peak"><span><s… of crown up close</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). It caught and partially buried a person who was hitting a jump in the runout zone (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27536"><span><span><span><strong><span… and details</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). No new snow with minimal wind-loading over the last few days has allowed buried weak layers to adjust and made avalanches less likely. However, if you plan to travel in avalanche terrain carefully assess the snowpack for buried weak layers and avoid steep slopes where you suspect they exist (as Dave explained in his </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D38XfiTnFwU&list=PLXu5151nmAvTi1DBS…; from the Bridger Range yesterday). Be extra cautious of wind-loaded slopes, and slopes where snow depth is variable and a large avalanche may be triggered from a relatively shallow spot. Today, human-triggered avalanches are possible and the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Please share avalanche, snowpack or weather observations via our</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_obs"><span><span><span><span>…; </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span><span>website</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, email (</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>mtavalanche@gmail.com</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events
Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out: Events and Education Calendar.
