22-23

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Yesterday’s fatality is the clearest possible indicator that the snowpack remains capable of producing large and dangerous avalanches (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/23/crown-butte-avalanche-fatality-bu…; </span></span></strong></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/23/crown-butte-avalanche-fatality-fu…;). In addition, there were snowmobile triggered slides on Sheep Mountain near Cooke City (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsr8x3PCG3s"><span><span><span><strong>…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27426"><span><span><span><strong><span…;) and another along Lionhead ridge (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27430"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). These slides all broke on weak layers in the lower snowpack (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzCUIW7Fr_0"><span><span><span><strong>… Fork video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). You could also trigger dangerous slides within the snow that’s fallen over the last week (particularly where it has been wind drifted) or on a weak layer buried just beneath it. Although the snowpack is somewhat shallower in northern areas than further south, the list of concerns is the same. With no new snow or wind drifting, avalanches are a hair less likely today than yesterday, but still very much possible and they will be large.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Once they get a substantial break from the stress of new snowfall these layers will eventually stop producing avalanches, however, we are clearly not there yet. In the meantime, don’t try to outsmart the persistent weak layers. These layers are not producing consistently unstable snowpack test results, but they are producing avalanches. Continued patience (avoiding avalanche terrain) and adherence to safe travel protocols (riding one at a time, carrying rescue gear, and watching your partners for a safe spot) are the best ways to manage this concern.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>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>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>In Island Park, slides can break on weak layers in the lower snowpack, within the snow that’s fallen over the last week (particularly where it has been wind drifted) or on a weak layer buried just beneath it. There was an avalanche fatality yesterday near Cooke City and a deep slide triggered along Lionhead ridge. Continued patience (avoiding avalanche terrain) and adherence to safe travel protocols (riding one at a time, carrying rescue gear, and watching your partners for a safe spot) are the best ways to manage these concerns. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>