20-21

<p>New snow favored the Bridger Range and Hyalite with 3-4” equal to 0.3-0.5” of snow water equivalent (SWE). Moderate west wind drifted this snow into fresh slabs which add weight to an unstable snowpack and create dangerous avalanche conditions. Weak, sugary snow that formed during recent months of cold, dry weather is buried 2-3 feet deep (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/giant-depth-hoar-throne"><strong>… of crystals</strong></a>),&nbsp;produced large avalanches during the last couple weeks, and is not getting stronger (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23678">Large skier triggered slide in Hyalite</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23771">natural avalanches in Bridgers</a></strong>). In addition to avalanches breaking deep and wide on sugary weak layers, you can also trigger fresh drifts along ridgelines. Although relatively smaller, these wind slabs can be harmful, especially in terrain with higher consequences.&nbsp;They could also trigger deeper avalanches. Today the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and MODERATE on non-wind loaded slopes.</p>

<p>In the Madison Range, southern Gallatin Range and Lionhead area near West Yellowstone we have documented many recent avalanches and signs of instability on sugary weak layers buried 2-3 feet deep (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity">avalanche log</a></strong>, <strong><u><a href="https://youtu.be/Feyz2_4aNmU">video from Lionhead</a></u></strong>, <strong><u><a href="https://youtu.be/XzPIY1Q1cKo">video from Bacon Rind</a></u></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXu5151nmAvQDzKmH5K3ZS8Gg3DzwsZ3… videos</a></strong>). The mountains also now have a layer of feathery surface hoar buried 6-12” deep, below snow that fell Tuesday-Wednesday. It is worth digging to see if this layer exists prior to traveling on steep slopes, and to test if it will be a problem with more snow. On Thursday, Dave was in Taylor Fork and documented 10 avalanches which broke under the new snow (<a href="https://youtu.be/ZKzc9qpSNhs"><strong>video</strong></a&gt;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23795"><strong>details and photos</strong></a>). Today&nbsp;two buried weak layers make avalanches possible to trigger. Careful snowpack evaluation and cautious route finding are essential. The avalanche danger is rated MODERATE.</p>

<p>In the mountains near Cooke City, sustained strong wind earlier this week stripped slopes of new snow and piled thick drifts on other slopes. Natural avalanches were triggered during this loading event (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23788">photo and details</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/natural-avalanche-south-cooke">ph…;). These and skier triggered avalanches last week (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23644">Fin avalanche</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/23731">ski-cut north of Cooke</a></strong>) are good reminders that some slopes have unstable buried weak layers. Our main concern is a layer of sugary facets buried 2-3’ deep. Now in addition, the recent snowfall buried a weak layer of surface hoar (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/surface-hoar-henderson-bench"><st…;) that may avalanche with the next few storms. Skiers got this layer to break clean in their stability test on Thursday. These layers are not on all slopes, so it is a good idea to dig to look for them before riding steep slopes, and to track their location as they could avalanche with the next round of snow. Today, buried weak layers make avalanches possible to trigger and avalanche danger is MODERATE.</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>website<…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong>mtavalanche@gmail.com</strong></a…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>