22-23

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>On wind-loaded slopes, avalanches will be easily triggered in fresh wind drifts, up to 4 ft deep. 48 hour snow totals are adding up to 14-18”. Be aware that you might find less new snow in some areas as snowfall appears to be patchy with some weather stations reporting almost no new snow. Look and feel for wind drifts before getting on steep slopes. Steer clear of pillows of drifted snow that have formed beneath ridgelines or in cross-loaded gullies. Feel for the snow stiffening beneath your skis or sled as a sign you’ve found a drift and look for cracks shooting out in front of you as a clear sign that the drift is unstable.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Also be on the lookout for weak layers deeper in the snowpack. Yesterday, Doug and I found a dramatic layer of weak, sugary facets at Buck Ridge (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En1DxtBkHt0"><span><span><span><strong>…;). We’re not sure how widespread these weak layers are around Bozeman and Big Sky, but Dave also found them on Mt. Ellis on Monday (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/TkUux4F7dV8"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>…;). This uncertainty should give you pause, even on non-windloaded slopes.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Human triggered avalanches are likely and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes today. The danger is MODERATE on all other slopes. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

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<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanches could break today on weak layers in the lower snowpack. Yesterday, riders north of Cooke City saw evidence of two large, recent avalanches (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27218"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). These avalanches may be triggered from the flats beneath a steeper slope (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.mtavalanche.com/index.php/node/27148"><span><span><span><str…;). Obvious signs of instability might not present themselves today, but the weak snow structure is widespread, so plan to give yourself a large margin of safety. Slopes with wind drifts are more likely to break on these deep weak layers and also have thicker slabs which will allow avalanches to break wider. For today, avalanches remain possible and the danger is rated MODERATE.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>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><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></p>

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