22-23

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche warning in Lionhead has expired. Yesterday, Ian and I rode into Taylor Fork to analyze the snow (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27376"><span><span><span><strong><span… and video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). There are 2 weak layers: one about a foot from the surface (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/F8HKebJ_OJA"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>…; </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/new-weak-layer-lionhead"><span><s…;) and another in the lower third of the snowpack. Both consist of sugary facets with the upper layer being the most unstable. Our stability tests bore this out with the upper layer easily breaking, but the real evidence was an avalanche in Sage Basin and a large whumpf (collapse) from our body weight.&nbsp; Visibility was poor, yet this one avalanche confirmed that slopes are dangerous. The same unstable ingredients exist in </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27323"><span><span><span><strong><span…; and </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27364"><span><span><span><strong><span… Rind</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>It is not unusual to have avalanche deaths the day after an avalanche warning. While the snowpack is </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><em><span>a little</span></em></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> more stable, folks tend to lose their minds in the fresh powder and sunshine. Stay focused and realize that traveling in avalanche terrain today carries significant risk. Triggering avalanches remains likely and the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The mountains around Cooke City have a weak layer of faceted snow buried 1-2 feet under the surface. These sugary grains do not stick together and are breaking in stability tests (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27365"><span><span><span><strong><span…;), and more significantly, avalanched on a small slope that was intentionally triggered by a snowboarder on Monday (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27341"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). These mountains also have a weak layer near the ground that could be triggered from thin snow cover. An avalanche breaking deep would be large and deadly. In general, releasing avalanches on either of these layers is possible, just not on most slopes. This is our conundrum: riding on steep slopes without consequence does not indicate stability. Be careful, only ride or ski one at a time, and look for signs of instability (cracking, collapsing, recent avalanches, poor stability test scores). For today, the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE on all slopes. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The mountains around Bozeman and Big Sky have 2 layers of sugary, faceted snow on many slopes. One is a foot under the surface and another is near the ground. On Monday, skiers near Big Sky triggered a collapse (whumpf) which is a sign of instability (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27334"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). Skiers also found unstable snow on Divide Peak yesterday (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27368"><span><span><span><strong><span…;) which matched Dave’s findings on Mt. Blackmore (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/jjrqrzYhpIc"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>…;) and Alex’s field day on Buck Ridge (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2HXtmgNkt8"><span><span><span><strong>…;). Tuesday’s snow and strong wind has loaded these weak layers. Dig and assess steep slopes, and only expose 1 person at a time to avalanche terrain. For today, triggering avalanches is possible and the danger is rated 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>The avalanche warning in Island Park has expired. Weak layers in the snowpack remain dangerous. It is not unusual to have avalanche deaths the day after an avalanche warning. While the snowpack is </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><em><span>a little</span></em></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> more stable, folks tend to lose their minds in the fresh powder and sunshine. Stay focused and realize that traveling in avalanche terrain today carries significant risk. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>