Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>It remains possible to trigger avalanches in the snow that fell earlier this week, especially in places where wind has drifted that snow into deeper drifts. The deeper and more recently formed the drift, the more likely you are to trigger a dangerous slide. Winds have been variable and have blown out of unusual directions (including east winds on Wednesday), so be on the lookout for drifts in unusual places. Yesterday, riders north of Cooke City saw a recent snowmobile triggered slide on Crown Butte (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28183"><span><span><span><strong><span…;) and skiers triggered a small slide in a wind drift in Bradley’s meadow, north of Bridger Bowl (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28188"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). Recent human triggered avalanches are the clearest possible evidence that triggering slides remains possible. There were also slides earlier this week on </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28158"><span><span><span><strong><span…. Blackmore</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, in </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28186"><span><span><span><strong><span… Falls Basin</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, on </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28166"><span><span><span><strong><span… Ridge</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>,</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span> </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>in </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28143"><span><span><span><strong><span…;, and at </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/23/snowmobiler-triggered-avalanche-l…;
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>All the avalanche activity we’ve seen following this last storm seems to have broken in the new snow, but there are also weak layers buried in the top 3 feet of the snowpack that we don’t entirely trust just yet. Dig to assess these weak layers before riding steep slopes (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqjV1Id7_nc"><span><span><span><strong>… Ridge video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>) .</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>If you decide to enter avalanche terrain, cover your bases by carrying rescue gear (avalanche beacon, shovel and probe) and sticking to safe travel protocols by only exposing one person to steep slopes at a time with a partner watching from a safe spot (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5dURPSjAX8"><span><span><span><strong>… Rind video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Across the advisory area, the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Please share avalanche, snowpack or weather observations via our</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_obs"><span><span><span><span>…; </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span><span>website</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, email (</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>mtavalanche@gmail.com</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs). </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
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Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events
Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out: Events and Education Calendar.