Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p>Wet snow avalanches will increase in size and volume as temperatures rise. These will most likely release as loose snow avalanches, but larger, wet slab avalanches are possible. Backcountry travelers or smaller wet snow slides may trigger large, dry snow avalanches breaking on deeply buried persistent weak layers. The danger of both will rise throughout the day as melt-freeze crusts break down and the surface snow becomes wet.</p>
<p><span>Temperatures barely dipped below freezing last night, and wet snow concerns are increasing.</span> The snow surface and avalanche conditions will evolve quickly and will vary significantly by aspect. At Beehive Basin yesterday, we noted these differences and that backcountry travelers must anticipate these daily changes to stay safe (<a href="https://youtu.be/Eb7HWFq7A0Q"><strong><span>video</span></strong></a>). Local ski patrols mitigated the risk of wet snow avalanches with terrain closures. Look at the photos and read about a small avalanche on <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31515">Mt. Blackmore</a></strong>, a small, wet snow avalanche that triggered a dry snow avalanche on Woody Ridge (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31513"><strong><span>photo and details</span></strong></a>), and slides on Crown Butte and Scotch Bonnet that gained significant volume for examples of wet snow activity (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/wet-loose-snow-avalanche-crown-bu… Butte wet snow avalanche</span></strong></a>,<a href="https://youtu.be/__KumkBkUJ4"><strong><span> video</span></strong></a>). Think like the local ski patrols and “close” terrain by moving to cooler aspects or heading home before surface crusts break down and more than the top few inches of the snowpack get wet. Ensure a safe exit through lower elevations where temperatures are likely warmer.</p>
<p>Large, dry slab avalanches breaking deep and wide on persistent weak layers remain a scary possibility. The recent avalanche on Woody Ridge <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31513"><strong><span>outlined above</span></strong></a>, a slide in the Taylor Fork that piled debris high in the runout zone (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31479"><strong><span>Taylor Fork photo and details</span></strong></a>) and an avalanche on the <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31460"><strong><span>Lawnmower</span><…; just outside the advisory area demonstrate the potential. Select smaller slopes with fewer consequences and follow safe travel protocols if you choose to enter avalanche terrain (<a href="https://youtu.be/__KumkBkUJ4"><strong><span>Cooke City video</span></strong></a>). Like the rest of the advisory area, the snowpack structure is weak in the Bridger Range, but we are unaware of any recent deep slab avalanche activity. Thus, wet snow avalanches are the dominant concern in the Bridger Range.</p>
<p>The avalanche danger will start the day rated as MODERATE. The danger of wet snow avalanches will quickly increase to CONSIDERABLE, with slides becoming likely as the day warms.<span> </span></p>
Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events
Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out: Events and Education Calendar.
