23-24

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The snowpack has a poor structure which makes human-triggered avalanches possible. Weak, sugary facets are buried below 1-2 feet of snow that fell last week. The likelihood of triggering an avalanche is slowly decreasing, but recent avalanches and red flags tell us the possibility remains. On nine of the last ten days we received reports of avalanches or signs of an unstable snowpack, such as collapsing and whumphing (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/weather/wx-avalanche-log"><span><span><span… and avalanche log</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>Yesterday a skier triggered an avalanche at Lionhead and shared a </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0-qL5ZrJcd/?id=3260228715764553501_2655…; showing they triggered it from far upslope, or remotely triggered. I was north of Cooke City yesterday and experienced collapses of the snowpack and saw a snow structure similar to what is responsible for unstable conditions throughout the forecast area (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hugfAvGd09U&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvSH326z…;). Also yesterday, multiple groups of skiers reported collapsing and loud “whumphs” in Beehive Basin (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29575"><span><span><span><strong><span…;) and the Bridger Range (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29570"><span><span><span><strong><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29582"><span><span><span><strong><span…;).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Other notable signs of instability from the last week include: Big Sky ski patrol reported two avalanches thought to be naturally triggered during the day on Friday, and later they confirmed at least one was triggered by a mountain goat (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29552"><span><span><span><strong><span…; </span></span></strong></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/23/natural-avalanches-closed-terrain…;). Collapsing and whumphing of the snowpack in nearly every region of our forecast area (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><span><span><span><stro… activity</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Last Friday Ian saw a couple recent natural avalanches at Lionhead (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhmeSvFN4hI"><span><span><span><strong>…;), and last Tuesday a skier triggered a large avalanche on Mt. Blackmore in Hyalite (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff4qS1aF9Fs"><span><span><span><strong>…;), both are good examples of the type of avalanche you can still trigger. See our </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><span><span><span><stro… activity</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> page for a comprehensive look at recent avalanches and red flags.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanches can break wide, and can be triggered on slopes steeper than 30 degrees or from lower angle terrain connected to steep slopes. Choose terrain carefully. Consider the consequences of an avalanche if you travel on or below slopes steeper than 30 degrees, and thoughtfully evaluate the snowpack. Signs to stay off steep slopes include cracking, collapsing, recent avalanches, and poor stability test scores.</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>