23-24

<p>Dangerous avalanche conditions exist across the advisory area, and large, human-triggered avalanches failing 2-4 feet deep on persistent weak layers are likely. Smaller avalanches may fail within the new or wind-drifted snow, but the gutless foundation of the season’s snowpack continues to drive decision-making.</p>

<p>In the last week alone, we have fifty entries from across the advisory area in our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><strong><span>avalanche activity log</span></strong></a>. Many of these describe multiple slides. The mountains are communicating the avalanche danger clearly.</p>

<p>Yesterday, I got another wake-up call to this reality at Buck Ridge when I triggered an avalanche in First Yellowmule that released 3 feet deep and hundreds of feet wide while I was safely away from the slope in flat terrain (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30721"><strong><span>observation</span…;, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F9kBArjRDc"><strong><span>video</span>…;). In the backcountry near Big Sky Resort, a group triggered an avalanche that piled debris deeply in a terrain trap. Thankfully, no one was caught or injured (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30714"><strong><span>observation and photo</span></strong></a>). In Cooke City, a group observed a fresh, natural avalanche on Henderson Mountain (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30715"><strong><span>observation and photo</span></strong></a>).</p>

<p>Due to the nature of this season’s persistent weak layers, triggering avalanches from long distances away is relatively common. This weekend, backcountry travelers remotely triggered avalanches in Cooke City (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30678"><strong><span>photos and observation</span></strong></a>), at Lionhead Ridge (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30641"><strong><span>photo and observation</span></strong></a>), near Big Sky (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30621"><strong><span>photo and observation</span></strong></a>), and in Island Park (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30642"><strong><span>video</span></str…;). Last week, riders triggered an avalanche from flat terrain that broke 4 feet deep and 4000 feet wide in Tepee Basin (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30547"><strong><span>photos, video, and description</span></strong></a>). Thankfully, everyone was far enough away from the runout zones, and no one was caught, injured or killed. Factor in the possibility of triggering avalanches on slopes far above your position, and use caution when traveling below steep slopes (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d5_vlY-bjg&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvTk1fEF… angle video</a></strong>).</p>

<p>Conservative travel plans are essential. Selecting routes in terrain less than 30 degrees without steep slopes immediately above will keep you safe from avalanches. The danger is CONSIDERABLE.</p>