21-22

<p>In the last 7 days Cooke City and the southern ranges, including West Yellowstone, have gotten 4 feet of snow and wind making unstable conditions on wind-loaded slopes. The avalanche on Scotch Bonnet outside Cooke City could have occurred in any of the southern ranges since the snow structure and instability are similar. Snow was blown and packed into dense drifts that are poorly supported by weak, sugary facets 12-18” off the ground. Ian and I found this combination at the crown of the avalanche (<a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/ian-crown-avalanche-killed-2-snowm…;). In the last 48-hours skiers saw a slide on Henderson Bench (<a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/natural-slide-henderson-wind-loade…;) and riders triggered two small avalanches on Mt Abundance (<a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/human-triggered-avalanche-mount-ab…;).&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Our recent field investigations in Lionhead (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qumV6n73pTs&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2…;) and Taylor Fork (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdVk9B7UbtQ&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2…;) illustrate the likelihood of&nbsp; triggering slides on wind-loaded terrain. It is best to avoid these slopes. They will be found near ridgelines, above treeline and in gullies. The wind is still loading slopes and it is likely a skier or rider could trigger a large avalanche. For today, the danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and MODERATE on all others.</p>

<p>The mountains around Bozeman and Big Sky have gotten snow over the last 5 days: 12+” in the Bridgers, a foot in Hyalite and 6-8” in Big Sky. Skiing and riding has improved and folks are sending us observations. The snowpack is generally stable, but like most things in life there’s an exception: wind-loaded slopes could avalanche. These will not be deep or widespread, but triggering them is a possibility. Evidence of wind-loading are cornices, smooth pillows of dense snow and shooting cracks, a bullseye sign of instability.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With a trend toward stability signs of danger may not be prominent (avalanche activity, whumphing, etc).&nbsp; Weak, faceted snow near the ground is widespread and should be looked at and tested before diving into avalanche terrain. We must hunt for instability because it’s much better to be the hunter than the hunted. We do not like surprises which is why we dig. Our field videos&nbsp; last week should be a starting point for your stability assessment: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MhpDHnH8So"><strong><u>Saddle Peak</u></strong></a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/cf-qqv2Ssjw"><strong><u>Buck Ridge</u></strong></a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/ePMCJs3qAs0"><strong><u>Beehive Basin</u></strong></a>.&nbsp; For today, it remains possible to trigger slides on wind-loaded slopes which have a MODERATE danger. On all other slopes avalanches are unlikely and the 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>