24-25

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In the Lionhead area and the Southern Gallatin and Southern Madison Ranges, smaller avalanches on slopes with recent drifts of wind-loaded snow and larger avalanches breaking on buried weak layers are possible.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The primary concern is </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>persistent slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> breaking 2-3’ deep on weak layers formed in late January. The last avalanches failing on these weak layers occurred over a week ago and triggering one has become less likely. These slides mostly failed on treed, mid-elevation slopes, leading to several burials and close calls (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34421"><span><span><span><strong><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34413"><span><span><span><strong><span… Creek</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/34341"><span><span><span><strong><span… Basin</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Yesterday, Alex rode through the Lionhead area and described in his </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T1mh47gpro"><span><span><span><strong>…; why the snowpack structure remains a concern.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind slab avalanches </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>will be smaller, generally breaking less than a foot deep, and suspect terrain at upper elevations and below cornices is identifiable. Avoid these specific areas or watch for indicators of instability, such as shooting cracks.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Carry and train with rescue equipment and ensure only one person at a time is exposed to terrain steeper than 30 degrees. Consider the potential outcomes of an avalanche on a given slope and avoid those with higher consequence features such as trees, cliffs and gullies. The danger is rated MODERATE</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The snowpack is generally stable in the mountains around Bozeman, Big Sky, Cooke City and Island Park. Small avalanches are possible on slopes with isolated instability related to recently wind-drifted snow. Cooler temperatures and cloud cover will limit wet loose avalanches.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Yesterday, I toured Hyalite Canyon and assessed for </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>wind slab</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>instability </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>by digging extended column tests and watching for shooting cracks. I found that wind drifts have generally stabilized (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34555"><span><span><span><span><span><…;). The primary concern resides in the isolated areas where they have not bonded. Two days ago, skiers in the Bridger Range triggered wind slabs 8-10” deep and 10-20’ wide, with one person caught and carried ten feet (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34550"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>).&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Some people are choosing to ski and ride in very steep and technical terrain. While this is a reasonable time to consider more committing objectives, the margin for error is razor-thin in these spaces, with slight miscalculations (avalanches) having significant consequences. Assess the snowpack for isolated instability in this terrain and back off if conditions don’t feel right (</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>While most slopes are stable, the fundamentals of safe travel in avalanche terrain always apply–beacon, shovel, probe and one at a time on steep slopes. The avalanche danger is LOW.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>