23-24

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Over the last 36 hours it has snowed 10-16” (1.1-2.0” of </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/snowpack/snowpack-observat… water equivalent</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Strong winds yesterday drifted this new snow into slabs that will be easily triggered today. Either simply avoid these drifts or check to make sure they’re well bonded to the old snow surface before getting onto steeper slopes. Small, steep test slopes can be a great way to safely assess these surface instabilities (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/small-skier-triggered-wind-slab">…; of a small windslab I triggered yesterday near Cooke City). Recent avalanches or shooting cracks are clear signs of unstable drifts that mean steep wind-loaded slopes are ready to avalanche.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>These wind slabs could be several feet thick by themselves and plenty dangerous, but would also be a good trigger for huge avalanches breaking on the weak layers at the bottom of the somepack. It’s been a bit since we’ve last seen one of these slides breaking deeper, but the loading over the last week with yesterday’s additional snow on top makes us a bit nervous about the possibility today (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGZxS-K8u3o"><span><span><span><strong>… Rind video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Assessing these deeper weak layers is much more difficult than assessing the surface instabilities. The best management strategy is picking slopes on the lower angled and smaller end of the spectrum with less obstacles or terrain traps beneath them.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>If the sun pops through the clouds, loose wet avalanches will quickly become a concern and with plenty of new snow and crusts beneath it they could be good sized and run far.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Human triggered avalanches are LIKELY and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Our concerns are generally similar around Bozeman and Big Sky, but with less new snow wind drifts will be a bit thinner and triggering an avalanche is a bit less likely. On many slopes the wind drifts that formed yesterday will have bonded well to the old snow surface, but be on the lookout for thicker drifts and those that aren’t bonded as well. Be on your toes if the sun pops out as the new snow will quickly become wet and start to sluff on steep terrain. Keep your terrain choices in check as deeper slides also aren’t totally out of the question today.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Remember that even shallow avalanches can be dangerous in the wrong spot (especially above cliffs where just getting knocked off your feet could have big consequences).&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>