22-23

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The storm dropped 8-11" of snow around Bozeman, Big Sky, Cooke City and Taylor Fork, and 3-5” around West Yellowstone. In some areas this new snow fell onto a weak surface (facets). On slopes that were drifted by the wind it remains possible to trigger avalanches. Alex found this avalanche recipe (slab sitting a weak layer) in Bridger Bowl yesterday. He intentionally triggered a 20-foot wide, 6-8” deep, soft slab of wind blown snow. It ran 250 feet and broke on the faceted, old surface (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26906"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Additionally, on high elevation sloples, especially north facing, there could be weak snow at the ground. As evidence, a large avalanche on Hyalite Peak last Friday broke on this basal layer (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26883"><span><span><span><strong><span… and details</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). We do not believe this deep instability to be widespread, but we will be hunting for it.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Our main avalanche concern is wind drifted snow. Shooting cracks are signs the snow is unstable, and any avalanche, no matter how small, is bullseye data to stay off steep terrain. Digging and testing the snow is fruitful since there are not many layers. With 2-3 feet of snow in the mountains, travel is getting easier which means our exposure to avalanche terrain is rising. Ice climbers and hunters need to be extra careful crossing wind-loaded gullies.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today, triggering avalanches is possible and the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Dave will issue the next forecast tomorrow morning. 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>About 2-3” fell in the mountains around Island Park. This new snow fell onto a surface of weaker snow (facets). On Monday a sledder had cracks propagating in wind drifted snow on Reas Peak which was a warning that some slopes were unstable (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/wind-slabs-cracking-reas-peak-isl…;). Digging and testing the snow is fruitful since there are not many layers (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/_Yw-PrBh6FU"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>…;). With 3-4 feet of snow in the mountains, travel is getting easier which means our exposure to avalanche terrain is rising. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today avalanches are possible where drifts of new snow are created by moderate west-northwest wind. Skiers, snowmobilers, ice-climbers and hunters should be cautious of steep slopes that have dense drifts of snow. Watch for cracking across the snow surface as a clear sign that these drifts are unstable and should be avoided. Find alternate routes if you encounter terrain that has higher consequences of being caught in even a small slide, such as narrow gullies or steep slopes above cliffs or thick trees.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The mountains have 1-3 feet of snow on the ground which fell in late October and early November. A few recent avalanches are evidence that weakness can be found deeper in the snowpack. A large avalanche on Hyalite peak last Friday broke a couple feet deep and 150 feet wide (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26883"><span><span><span><strong><span… and details</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Yesterday, Big Sky ski patrol triggered avalanches with large explosives that broke 12” deep, above a crust that formed on top of late-October snow (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26904"><span><span><span><strong><span… and details</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Avoid buried persistent weak layers by digging to assess snowpack structure and stability before riding in steep terrain. We have not seen or had reports of widespread unstable buried weak layers which means assessment may be trickier. With a lack of clear unstable snowpack test results, remain cautious if you find buried weak layers that cause concern. Take a step back with today's storm and see which layers break in avalanches and snowpack tests after the added weight of new snow and drifts.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Doug will issue the next forecast tomorrow morning. 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><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/snow-observations-list"><span><span><span><… Observations Page</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><strong><span><span>, </span></span></strong></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_obs"><span><span><span><stron… your observations</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>