23-24

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Triggering large, dangerous avalanches is a very worrisome possibility today. It’s been around four days since the last snowfall and a week since the last more substantial storm. This has brought the likelihood of triggering a slide down a little bit, but we are still a long way from trusting the snowpack. Weak snow near the ground is widespread and people continue to get large collapses and whumpfing across the advisory area (see the</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span> </span></span></strong></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>). On the other hand, it has been three days since our last report of a human triggered avalanche (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff4qS1aF9Fs"><span><span><span><strong>…. Blackmore video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>), which reflects that lowering likelihood. However, recent avalanches indicate that any slide that you do trigger is likely going to break near the ground and with thin coverage will probably drag you over rocks (increasing trauma risks) before potentially burying you (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29426"><span><span><span><strong><span… Sky slide</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29477"><span><span><span><strong><span… Basin slides</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/29474"><span><span><span><strong><span…. Elephant avalanche</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>As the probability of triggering a slide decreases, decision making becomes more difficult. You might be able to get away with riding a steep slope today. But you might not. Assessing the probability that any particular slope will avalanche will be difficult and has a large uncertainty. Entering avalanche terrain today is not a decision to make lightly. Choosing to continue to avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees is a very reasonable option.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Be very cautious if you do decide to ride steep slopes. Do your homework by reading </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/snow-observations-list"><span><span><span><… observations</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> and </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/weather"><span><span><span><span><span><u><… data</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>. Dig a snowpit. Be ready and alert for signs that you should back off (e.g. cracking, collapsing, recent avalanches, or poor stability test scores). Assess the terrain and think about the consequences of triggering a slide. Have an escape and rescue plan in place.&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 rated MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>