24-25

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>It’s getting harder to find soft snow as a result of warm temperatures and very strong winds. It’s also unlikely to trigger an avalanche. While skiing in the </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34568"><span><span><span><span><span><… yesterday</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, my partner and I found very hard drifts and wind slabs that seemed welded into place. However, we skied around them because I don’t like messing with avalanches.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind slabs</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> will be the main thing to steer clear of today. Despite recent very strong winds, they have moved minimal snow as Ian found in the </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34571"><span><span><span><span><span><… Bridgers yesterday</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>. Seek out soft snow on shady slopes untouched by wind for the safest and best riding conditions.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Near West Yellowstone, a </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>persistent slab </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>avalanche problem is mostly dormant. However the weak layer of facets 2-3 feet deep may start to wake up sometime in the near future if enough snow piles up.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today the avalanche danger is LOW.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanches are unlikely throughout the forecast area. While conditions are stable overall, isolated instabilities may exist within recently drifted snow and the warming snow later this afternoon. Weak layers in the mountains around West Yellowstone are dormant until the next storm wakes them up.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Most recent wind drifts have bonded to underlying snow surfaces, and slides will be relatively small on isolated slopes where </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>wind slab instability</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> exists. The most likely location for lingering instability is upper-elevation terrain, especially on slopes immediately below cornices (cornices collapsing under their weight is a separate but relevant concern). Dig an extended column test a couple of feet deep to assess the snowpack and watch for cracking around your skis, board or sled if you are considering travel on steep and consequential slopes where a small avalanche could be dangerous (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2-26tmDdIc&amp;embeds_referring_euri=h…;

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Small, </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>wet loose avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> may release naturally or with human triggers as the day warms, especially in south-facing and rocky terrain where melting weakens snow surfaces. Multiple days of sequential melting and freezing, along with breezy conditions this afternoon, should limit instability. Watch for cinnamon roll-like pinwheels and wet snow in the top few inches of the snowpack that indicate decreasing stability. Move to shadier, north-facing terrain to resolve the issue.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Persistent slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> failing 2-3’ deep on buried weak layers are unlikely, with the last slide of this type occurring a week and a half ago (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34428"><span><span><span><span><span><…;). These weak layers are primarily limited to the </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Lionhead area, Southern Gallatin, and Southern Madison Ranges</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>. Dig three feet and test for instability on weak layers to further reduce the chances of getting unlucky (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/q0IGs0dKpQU?feature=share"><span><span><span… Mark’s video</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> about finding this layer). Alex described in his </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T1mh47gpro"><span><span><span><strong>… video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> from Lionhead why persistent weak layers in the mountains near West Yellowstone will return as a concern when they get loaded by the weight of new snow.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Remember that experts are simply people who execute the basics flawlessly. Adhere to the fundamentals of avalanche safety–beacon, shovel, probe, one at a time on steep slopes and eyes open for signs of isolated instability. The danger is rated LOW.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>