Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p>It remains possible to trigger avalanches in the mountains around Cooke City. The reason is two-fold. <u>First</u>, there is a buried weak layer of sugary, faceted snow (and surface hoar) a foot and a half under the surface. This layer is responsible for many days of collapses, cracks, avalanches and poor test scores in snowpits (<a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><strong><u>details</u></…;). Yesterday a skier felt large collapses south of town in Wyoming Creek (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/25807"><strong><u>details</u></strong>…;). This matches the concerns Alex had during his visit this week (<a href="https://youtu.be/EQDLaHsyinU"><strong><u>video</u></strong></a>). <u>Second</u>, it has been windy enough to move snow around which loads slopes even when it is not snowing. </p>
<p>Collapses (whumpfs), shooting cracks, and the mother of bulls-eye information, avalanches, are blinking signs to avoid avalanche terrain. Even without those signs, remember to only expose 1 person at a time to avalanche terrain. For today the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE on all slopes.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Last night’s minor snowfall around Big Sky and Hyalite will not affect the general stable conditions we are finding in the mountains from Bozeman to West Yellowstone. Weak layers of small, sugary facets and two stripes of feathery surface hoar crystals can be found 12-18” under the surface (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/2-surface-hoar-layers"><strong><u…;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/bacon-rind-profile-9-feb-22"><str… profile</u></strong></a>). This layer is widespread yet only unstable in small, isolated areas where wind drifting has capped it with a dense slab of snow. This recipe is what allowed a snowmobiler to trigger a small but deadly slide on Sunday in Lionhead (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accident/22/02/09"><strong><u>details</u></…;). Once snowfall resumes, this weak layer will become unstable over wide swaths of our forecast area, but until then, avalanches are unlikely. Even with a stable snowpack we have to keep up our safety rituals. Just like buckling a seat-belt for a short drive, we need to always carry our rescue gear (beacon, shovel and probe) and literally only expose one person at a time in avalanche terrain. 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> </p>
