22-23

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Strong west-southwest wind is drifting new snow into dense slabs which are the main avalanche concern today. These fresh drifts can avalanche under the weight of a person, could be large enough to bury someone, and can easily carry a person down a steep slope. If you travel in steep terrain, assess the stability of new snow and fresh drifts, and avoid drifts of any size on slopes that end in cliffs, thick trees or confined gullies.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Over the last week, new snow followed by moderate to strong wind created drifts that were triggered by skiers (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26929"><span><span><span><strong><span… caught and carried</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26923"><span><span><span><strong><span… triggered wind slab</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>), and on high northerly slopes a few avalanches broke on weak layers near the bottom of the snowpack (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26883"><span><span><span><strong><span… Peak avalanche</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26938"><span><span><span><strong><span… avalanche on deeper weak layers at Big Sky</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Although less likely, avalanches could break below the 4-10” of snow that fell earlier this week. If you plan to ski or ride on steep slopes, dig down a couple feet to assess older weak layers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today, human-triggered avalanches are possible and the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>If you get out, 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><stron…;, email (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Near Island Park, strong wind will drift 2-4” of new snow into dense slabs. If you travel in steep terrain, assess the stability of new snow and fresh drifts, and avoid drifts of any size on slopes that end in cliffs, thick trees or confined gullies. If you plan to ski or ride on steep slopes, dig down a couple feet to assess older weak layers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>