22-23

<p><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/weather/wx-avalanche-log"><span><span><span… totals are impressive</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>:</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<ul>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>29” (3.5” snow water equivalent, SWE) in the Bridger Range</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>18” (1.7” SWE) in Hyalite</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>24” (1.7” SWE) in Big Sky</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>It is very dangerous in the backcountry. Heaps of snow are creating avalanches, both natural and human triggered. Today is a day to stay out of avalanche terrain, including runout zones. Avalanches can be triggered from afar (remotely) and can propagate uphill. Weak snow near the ground and/or other weak layers will break and avalanche with this new load. This is not a day to dig snowpits to try and outsmart the avalanche. Avoidance is the only tactic that works. Ian and Alex rode into Buck Ridge yesterday and confirmed the Avalanche Warning (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/_AKiCAbhppk"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>…;). There was also a skier triggered avalanche in Lick Creek that was 2-4’ deep (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/RBkECAuBzKg?feature=share"><span><span><span…;) and a 2.5’ deep slide was remotely triggered in Fairy Lake (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27849"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). Triggering avalanches is </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><em><span>very likely</span></em></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> today. During and immediately after storms is when avalanches are ripe to occur. As weather and visibility improves, do not err and assume the danger has passed, because it has not. Today the snowpack needs time to adjust to its new load. It can’t be rushed and the avalanche danger is rated HIGH. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Near West Yellowstone and Cooke City the mountains have dangerous avalanche conditions. In Cooke City yesterday, Beartooth Powder Guides reported 2-3 feet of new snow at higher elevations, far more than the automated weather stations are recording. Even with limited visibility, avalanches in the new snow were seen around Cooke City (</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>observation </span></span></strong></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27848"><span><span><span><strong><span…; </span></span></strong></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27843"><span><span><span><strong><span…; </span></span></strong></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27840"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). The southern Madison Range, southern Gallatin Range and Lionhead area have gotten at least a foot of snow in the last 2 days. A buried weak layer (feathery surface hoar crystals) was avalanching </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><em><span>before</span></em></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> the storm, which means today it will be easy to trigger avalanches. While the southern mountains are not quite at Avalanche Warning criteria, they still warrant serious respect. Give all avalanche terrain a wide berth today and don’t poke the bear.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>For today, the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes since triggering avalanches is likely.&nbsp;</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).&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The mountains have dangerous avalanche conditions. A buried weak layer (feathery surface hoar crystals) was avalanching </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><em><span>before</span></em></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> the storm, which means today it will be easy to trigger avalanches. While the southern mountains are not quite at Avalanche Warning criteria, they still warrant serious respect. Give all avalanche terrain a wide berth today and don’t poke the bear.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>