23-24

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Wind-loading is the main avalanche concern in the Bridger and northern Gallatin Ranges. Fresh wind slab avalanches yesterday are a sign of what will occur again today; no Ouija board is required.&nbsp; Skiers in Frazier Basin saw many slides (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31646"><span><span><span><strong><span…;) and Dave saw wind pluming snow off the ridge and recent avalanche activity in Argentina Bowl and near Saddle Peak (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/xuIkWhy1jvM?feature=share"><span><span><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31633"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Snow will start to fall this morning and wind will continue loading slopes. Seek sheltered terrain and avoid terrain traps. Even shallow avalanches can be dangerous.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all wind-loaded slopes and MODERATE on all others. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Around Big Sky and all ranges south, new snow and wind-loading are the main avalanche concerns. Ian is in Cooke City and made a </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/sHMnKlFFrMI?feature=share"><span><span><span…; standing in an 8’ deep pit, a visual treat given the low snow year (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31641"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). He explains how new snow and wind are creating instability in the upper 1+ foot of the snowpack (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/windslabs-north-cooke-city"><span>… 1</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/small-windslab-zimmer-creek"><span… 2</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>) and how the weaker, faceted snow near the ground is more difficult to trigger, but not impossible. Rocks sticking out in starting zones indicate shallow areas where a person could trigger a large and deadly slide.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today is a day of active loading and the snowpack will be most sensitive to triggering, both naturally and by people. Wind is blowing at all elevations loading slopes. The weight of the new snow is starting to add up over the last 5 days (1” 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>) and today is a day to travel wisely and conservatively. It is not always possible to identify exactly which slope or part of a slope has been wind-loaded, especially with poor visibility. Dangerous avalanche conditions are back. Be careful getting near avalanche terrain and be especially mindful of terrain traps.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>