19-20

<p>From Big Sky to West Yellowstone there is widespread weak snow at the ground. This weak snow will be will us for weeks, if not months, to come. With each additional day without a load of new snow, this weak foundation is slowly adjusting and you’re becoming less likely to trigger a slide (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/AvalancheGuys/videos">video</a></strong&gt;). However, triggering an avalanche remains possible if you find just the wrong spot. Signs of instability have become less frequent. Without these clues to guide you, the first sign of trouble may be triggering a slide. Remain wary of any slope with a cohesive slab above the weak snow at the ground. Wind drifted areas are more likely to have this combination. Avoid these slopes or dig to see if the weak layers are still reactive. Today, the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE.</p>

<p>Triggering an avalanches remains possible today on slopes with crusts and weak layers in the middle of the snowpack. Alex was in Cooke City for the last couple days and was finding this facet-crust combination still reactive on sunny slopes (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOUWPWg2J4A&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvSbcbVf…;). He also found thin wind slabs forming yesterday. Without much new snow to move around these slabs shouldn’t be much of a problem on their own, but they are adding just enough weight to keep the weak layers mid-pack awake.</p>

<p>Dig down to look for these weak layers. The snowpack is still relatively thin, so it won’t take too long. Avalanches are possible and the avalanche danger is MODERATE today.</p>

<p>It’s been five days since the last snowfall and the snowpack is generally stable. However, there are still a couple isolated avalanche concerns. Watch out for heavily wind drifted pockets, particularly if you’re getting into steeper terrain where a small slide could have big consequences. With the unseasonably warm temperatures and blue skies today, you could also trigger a small loose snow slide near rocks on the sunniest slopes. Enjoy the temperate conditions, but keep avalanches in the back of your mind. For today, the avalanche danger is rated LOW.</p>

<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can fill out an&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation">observation form</a></strong>, email us (<strong><a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com">mtavalanche@gmail.com</a></strong&gt;), leave a VM at 406-587-6984, or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>

<p>Yesterday, I rode in the Taylor Fork area and was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Weak layers that were giving unstable test results last weekend no longer are. Without significant new snow, avalanches are becoming harder to trigger (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/AvalancheGuys/videos">video</a></strong&gt;). The trend is in the right direction, but we’re not completely out of the woods yet, avalanches are still possible today. With an assortment of weak layers throughout the snowpack and near the ground, if you do trigger a slide it can break deep and wide (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/19/avalanches-taylor-fork">photo</a>…;).</p>

<p>On Wednesday, skiers near Lionhead had the snowpack collapse under them several times, demonstrating that all the ingredients needed for an avalanche remain present. Examine the snowpack carefully and think through the consequnces of a slide before getting onto steep slopes today. The avalanche danger is rated MODERATE.</p>

<p>In the mountains around Cooke City be on the lookout for a weak layer near a crust in the middle of the snowpack. A number of avalanches broke on this weak layer last weekend (on <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg0OZvz7Qf4">Mt. Abundance</a></strong>, <strong>&nbsp;</strong><strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/19/mount-fox-avalanche">Mt. Fox</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/19/natural-avalanche-republic-crk">R… Creek</a></strong>, the <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/19/avalanche-mount-republic">Fin</a>…; and <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/19/snowmobile-triggered-slide-crown-… Butte</a></strong>). There has only been a dusting of new snow over the last week. This has given the weak layer time to stabilize and accommodate the load, but it still deserves attention as triggering an avalanche remains possible today.</p>

<p>Yesterday, Alex dug south of town and found this weak layer still reactive on a windloaded southwest facing slope (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOUWPWg2J4A&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvSbcbVf…;). This weak layer is most prevalent on sunny slopes. Before riding in avalanche terrain do your homework by digging looking for the weak layer. The avalanche danger is MODERATE today.</p>

<p>The snowpack is generally stable in the Bridger and Northern Gallatin ranges. Avalanche concerns are isolated to pockets of wind drifts near ridgelines. Earlier this week, a couple small slides broke in Hyalite (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/21288">details</a></strong&gt;) and there was a larger slide on Saddle Peak (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/21283">details</a></strong&gt;). While most of these wind slabs will now be glued on, still be mindful of heavily windloaded areas. For today, the avalanche danger is rated LOW.</p>

<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can fill out an&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation">observation form</a></strong>, email us (<strong><a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com">mtavalanche@gmail.com</a></strong&gt;), leave a VM at 406-587-6984, or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>