20-21

<p>In the mountains around Bozeman, Big Sky and West Yellowstone our biggest avalanche concern remains weak, sugary snow at the ground. This layer is found on almost all slopes and it is still weak and capable of avalanching. On Buck Ridge, Sunday, a skier triggered two avalanches on this layer when he landed a big jump on a steep slope (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CL4xIk5n8PZ/"><strong><u>skiers IG video</u></strong></a>; <a href="https://mtavalanche.com/node/24484"><strong><u>details and photos</u></strong></a>). He skied away unharmed. The slide broke 2-3’ deep and 100 feet wide and simultaneously triggered another slope 2-300 feet away. Two avalanches from one trigger is uncommon and illustrates how the weak layer is connected across slopes. Ian and I visited the site yesterday and made a <a href="https://youtu.be/8JxETara_7o"><strong><u>video</u></strong></a>.</p&gt;

<p>With facets/depth hoar at the ground all bets are off. Even without recent avalanches or other signs of instability be aware that facets at the ground have a long history of fooling us. Slopes avalanche when we do not expect it. That's why we carry rescue gear, travel one at a time and watch one another; sometimes our assessment is wrong and we need a safety net. Be skeptical in the coming days of calm, sunny, spring weather. All is not well under the snow surface and triggering an avalanche is still possible. A snowmobiler triggered avalanche in Red Canyon on Sunday is another example of weak snow at the ground breaking, which Dave talks about in his <a href="https://youtu.be/Mhspuzy-gOU"><strong><u>video</u></strong></a><strong&…; </strong>(<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/24472"><strong><u>details and photos</u></strong></a>). For today, the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE on all slopes.</p>

<p><u>WET AVALANCHE POTENTIAL</u>: Above freezing temperatures will dampen the snow surface. On slopes getting the full power of the sun I expect wet snow to loosen and slide on steep slopes (photos of wet loose slides on <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/wet-loose-avalanches-buck-ridge">… Ridge</u></strong></a> and <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/wet-loose-avalanches-hwy-191"><st… Rind</u></strong></a>) . These will not be deep but they may run far. Sinking ankle deep in wet snow is a warning from Mother Nature to seek shady and cooler slopes.</p>

<p>The mountains around Cooke City have a generally stable snowpack. This is not to say there are no problems, but they are isolated. Wind-loaded terrain may still harbor older slabs that could be triggered. On Daisy Pass on Sunday a sledder triggered an avalanche (<a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/natural-avalanche-daisy-pass-afar"><s… 1</u></strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/natural-avalanche-daisy-pass-close"><…;) on a wind-loaded slope. Slides like these are becoming more scarce, but steep, wind-drifted terrain is where one could be triggered. Without new snow, wind-loading or recent signs of instability, the danger is rated LOW.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Temperatures are forecasted to be cooler around Cooke City which will keep wet avalanches at bay. However, if the forecast is wrong and temperatures rise far above freezing, a few wet loose avalanches might be naturally triggered.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our <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>