23-24

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Temperatures are dangerously frigid and the snowpack is unstable. This is a worrisome combination. Think long and hard before venturing out into the backcountry today. Any bad situation you get into can very quickly become much worse in such cold conditions.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Natural avalanches were reported over the last several days on The Fin, Henderson Mtn., Sheep Mtn., and Scotch Bonnet Mtn. near Cooke City (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29906"><span><span><span><strong><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29921"><span><span><span><strong><span…;) and in closed terrain at the Yellowstone Club near Big Sky (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29873"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). There were two skier triggered slides yesterday. One slide broke a foot deep on Miller Mtn. near Cooke City (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29915"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>) and another 2 ft deep on a wind-loaded slope in the Big Sky area (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29925"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). Slides are being triggered from a distance, raising concerns that you could trigger a slope from below (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTnE5gzG1sc"><span><span><span><strong>… Fork video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/QNkJeGFSPYs"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>… video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The snowpack situation is simple - a very weak snowpack has been pushed to its breaking point by snow and wind over the last week and avalanches are being triggered, both naturally and by people. Human triggered avalanches are likely today. Avoid traveling on or beneath steep slopes. The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Thursday’s foot of new snow was low density and noncohesive, but the winds picked up last night and drifted it into stiffer slabs (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJxMtiIQGbs"><span><span><span><strong>… Range video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). This will make it easy to trigger avalanches on any wind loaded slope, breaking on the weak layers beneath the new snow. Watch and feel for signs of wind drifting and avoid those slopes. Dig and perform a stability test before riding any steep slope. Triggering avalanching is likely and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and MODERATE on all other slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The northern Gallatin Range has received less new snow than elsewhere, reducing the likelihood of an avalanche, but the same sorts of slides as elsewhere are still possible, including facet sluffs gouging deep into the weak snowpack (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0LROtnc7Us"><span><span><span><strong>… Ridge video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Carefully evaluate the snowpack before committing to steep slopes and be alert for signs of instability. The avalanche danger is MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>