21-22

<p>In the mountains around Cooke City there is a weak layer of faceted, sugary snow a couple feet under the surface. There were recent avalanches on this layer (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25906"><strong><u>Miller Mountain</u></strong></a>, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25941"><strong><u>Mount Abundance</u></strong></a>, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25937"><strong><u>Round Lake</u></strong></a>) and red flags of collapsing and cracking, plus poor stability test scores yesterday south of town on Woody Ridge. This weak layer is getting difficult to trigger, but it is widespread and demands our attention. Cracking and collapsing are signs that the snowpack is unmistakably unstable and poor stability test scores are a proxy to that. Triggering avalanches is possible today, so travel accordingly. In light of our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accidents"><strong><u>recent accidents</u></strong></a> it’s wise to travel one at a time in avalanche terrain, watch each other from a safe distance and carry rescue gear. For today the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE.</p>

<p>From the Bridger Range to Big Sky and West Yellowstone, the snowpack is generally stable and triggering avalanches is unlikely. This does not mean the snowpack cannot surprise us; it merely means the odds are in our favor. There are two things to keep in mind with the snowpack today. The first are wind-drifting in odd places from the strong east wind that blew the last 3 days. The wind scraped slopes that normally get loaded and chewed back cornices, moving snow to slopes that are normally scoured (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/east-wind-effect-mt-ellis"><stron…;). Skiers on Mt. Ellis reported this yesterday. The second concern is weak, faced snow about 6-18” under the surface. Overall this layer is not reactive, but there may be a few small slopes with lingering instability that could be triggered. Look no further than the avalanche fatality in <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accident/22/02/09"><strong><u>Lionhead on February 7</u></strong></a> as a reminder of the deadly potential of a small, isolated slide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Always be on the lookout for signs of instability, and now that it’s getting warmer, stopping and testing the snow is no longer a frostbite threat. For today the avalanche danger is rated LOW.&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>

<p>The mountains around Cooke City are still exhibiting signs of instability that cannot be ignored. A deadly <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25906"><strong><u>avalanche triggered by a snow biker</u></strong></a><strong> </strong>on Saturday was followed by a large natural avalanche on the south face of Mount Abundance on Monday (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25941"><strong><u>photos and details</u></strong></a>). Also on Monday, near Round Lake a rider triggered a 200’ long avalanche on a short and steep slope that could have buried someone (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25937"><strong><u>photo and details</u></strong></a>). Avalanches are propagating far distances on weak, sugary snow about 2 feet under the surface. Yesterday, skiers had whumpfs and shooting cracks (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25953"><strong><u>details</u></strong>…;) in wind drifts south of town on Woody Ridge. Triggering avalanches remains possible. Turn around at the first sign of instability like cracking and collapsing. The weak layers are not healing, they are just becoming slightly more difficult to trigger without the weight of new snow or wind-loads. For today the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the mountains around Bozeman and Big Sky there are 2 avalanche concerns. The first is wind drifting from the east wind. Wind drifts are always a concern, but east wind is an unusual direction and atypical slopes are getting loaded (i.e. west facing terrain). Shooting cracks are a sign you are on a drift that could slide if steep enough. The second concern are loose snow avalanches big enough to knock you down and push you over cliffs. Alex and Ian saw this during their tour of the Throne in the Bridger Range on Monday (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/natural-loose-snow-avalanches-n-b…;, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV89cwNXEnw"><strong><u>video</u></stro…;) and yesterday a skier saw large sluffs during a tour in Hyalite (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25951"><strong><u>details and photo</u></strong></a>). Wind is not loading slopes today, but yesterday they were. Triggering avalanches is still possible on wind drifts formed in the last couple days and the danger is rated MODERATE on these slopes. All other slopes have a LOW danger.</p>

<p>In the southern Gallatin and southern Madison Ranges along with the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone, there is weak snow buried 6-18” deep, but the snowpack is generally stable. In the absence of new snow or wind-loading avalanches are unlikely. There may be a few lone wolf slopes waiting for a trigger, but these are not numerous and the slides would not be very big or deep. During times of relative stability we still want to carry rescue gear, go one at a time into avalanche terrain and watch one another in case an avalanche gets unintentionally triggered. For today the avalanche danger is rated LOW on all slopes.</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>

<p>&nbsp;</p>