19-20

<p>Mountain weather fluctuated dramatically over the last week and added interesting layers, but the snowpack remains stable without the additional weight of new snow (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/19/krispy-kreme-glaze-beehive"><stro…; <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/19/montagnes-meadow-profile-11-nov">…;). We are keeping wet snow, surface hoar, and new snow in our minds for the weekend. Daytime temperatures in the upper 30s and 40s F could lead to isolated wet snow avalanches pushing you into hazardous terrain. Move to cooler slopes if you start sinking into sloppy, wet snow on your tour. In Hyalite Canyon, a skier observed feathery surface hoar crystals before they were likely buried by Tuesday night’s snow (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/19/surface-hoar-now-buried"><strong>…;). Look for an obvious stripe in your snowpit about 5” under the surface and use a stability test to assess this weak layer. On Tuesday, climbers outside our advisory area in the Absaroka Range had a scare when they triggered a wind-loaded slope while approaching their route (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/20966"><strong>avalanche report</strong></a>). Wind slabs that formed earlier this week have stabilized, but Friday night’s snow and wind will add sensitive drifts of snow into the mix.</p>

<p>People across Southwest Montana are getting ready for winter. As you think about getting your snow tires on, tuning skis, boards, and sleds, add your avalanche gear to your pre-season checklist as Ian show us in his video so you will be ready to go when the next storm hits (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYOaXqIv50M&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvSbcbVf…;

<p>If you have avalanche, snowpack, or weather observations to share, please submit them via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong>website<…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong>mtavalanche@gmail.com</strong></a…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>

<p>While the weather has been all over the place the last couple days, it hasn’t changed the big picture for the snowpack. Small avalanches breaking near the surface are the only real concern.</p>

<p>Pay attention to slopes that have more than a couple inches of freshly drifted snow. On Sunday, a wind slab avalanche broke on the north face of Mt Blackmore (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/20958">details</a></strong&gt;). Skiers in the Bridger Range yesterday found thin winds slabs and had cracks shoot out 15 ft past the tips of their skis, a clear sign of instability (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/19/cracks-ese-aspect-bridger-bowl">p…;). These slabs have bonded over the last 24 hours, but I expect another round of similar, thin wind slabs to develop with tonight’s little bit of new snow and strong winds. Stay on the lookout for signs of instability such as recent avalanches or cracking/collapsing drifts (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/19/cracking-bridger">photo</a></stro…;). Either of these are a clear warning to avoid steep slopes.</p>

<p>With temperatures rising into the 40s by the end of the week, wet loose avalanches will be possible. If the snow surface gets sticky and wet, be wary of small avalanches that could push you into rocks or off a cliff.</p>

<p>There are some areas where weak snow has formed near the ground, but they don’t appear to be widespread and without a larger load of snow are not yet a substantial avalanche concern.</p>