Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p>Welcome to March. We have an abrupt transition to the new month as we begin talking about wet snow avalanches after a February of record snowfall. Today, temperatures near freezing (thawing) and sunny skies will be a shock to the cold snowpack. Recent soft snow will begin to melt, lose strength and slide naturally on steep slopes. Slopes that get direct sun will be the first to have loose snow avalanches this morning. Anywhere you feel moist or wet snow on the surface is a sign similar slopes are becoming unstable.</p>
<p>Loose snow avalanches are likely today. These could run long distances and become large as they entrain recent snow. Additionally, February’s snow and wind created massive cornices along ridgelines that will break naturally and be easy to trigger. Cornice falls and loose snow slides will likely trigger larger slabs of recent snow, or possibly step down and trigger a very large deep slab on weak sugary snow near the ground (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/mt-ellis-weak-snow-ground"><stron…;, <strong>videos from </strong><a href="https://youtu.be/Ychm42ihtjk"><strong>Blackmore</strong></a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/65JO-4w4qXo"><strong>McAtee Basin</strong></a>).</p>
<p>Yesterday near Cabin Creek a snowbiker triggered a large avalanche that broke 3 feet deep on weak snow (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/24472">details and photos</a></strong>). Doug and I skied north of Bridger Bowl and found 1-2 foot thick wind slabs that cracked under our skis, and we dug down to see the soft, weak sugary snow buried six feet deep (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/cracking-wind-slabs">photo</a></s…;, <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_BOYcpqP-I&list=PLXu5151nmAvQDzKmH…;). Dave saw the same poor, untrustworthy snowpack structure in Taylor Fork (<strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_BOYcpqP-I&list=PLXu5151nmAvQDzKmH…;). Near Cooke City the weak snow near the ground is less widespread, but some recent avalanche activity has shown weaker snow exists on some slopes with a relatively shallower snowpack (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/24432"><strong>details</strong></a> of a natural avalanche in Hayden Creek earlier in the week). Keep these wind slabs and deep slabs in mind, they are possible to trigger even where the snow remains cold and dry today.</p>
<p>Today warm temperatures and sunshine will be an unwelcome change for the cold snowpack. Large to very large natural avalanches are possible, and skier and rider triggered avalanches are likely on steep, sunny slopes. Avoid travel on and underneath large cornices and steep slopes where the snow is becoming wet from the sun or warm temperatures. The avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE.</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>website<…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong>mtavalanche@gmail.com</strong></a…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>
The Beacon Park at Beall Park in Bozeman is running!
The Friends of the Avalanche Center in partnership with the City of Bozeman put in a Beacon Park at Beall Park. It is located on the north side of the Beall building between N. Bozeman Ave. and the ice rink. Stop by with your
