22-23

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In the Bridger Range and Cooke City snowfall stopped and the Avalanche Warning expired. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Since Sunday, the Bridger Range received 4 feet of snow measuring 4.3” of </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/taxonomy/term/451"><span><span><span><span>… water equivalent</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> (SWE). For the most part, the snowpack held together and natural avalanche activity was minimal (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28224"><span><span><span><strong><span…’s observation and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Clear skies might reveal a large avalanche or two, but in general we are optimistic about the future. However, today we cannot discount the fact that 4” of SWE is a very large load and that large avalanches can be triggered. My partners and I dug a snowpit near the Ramp on the Brider ridge. Our stability test did not show breaks in the new snow, but these tests can be unreliable with deep layers and we are not confident in the snowpack’s stability (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28244"><span><span><span><strong><span… and observations</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Strong east wind will strip the upper slopes and create drifts on the west side of the range which are also likely to be triggered.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The mountains around Cooke City received about 35” of snowfall measuring 2.9” of SWE. A large avalanche on Wall Mountain was seen yesterday (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/23/natural-avalanche-wall-mountain">…;) and a skier reported triggering whumpfs outside town. On Monday, a skier watched a large natural slide release on Woody Ridge (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28236"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photo</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Visibility has been poor and we are unsure of the extent of the avalanche cycle, but today is a day to be extra careful since it’s likely to trigger large avalanches.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Give avalanche terrain a wide berth. Slopes need a day or two to adjust to the heavy snow load. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>For today, the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The entire length of the Gallatin and Madison Ranges and the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone received 15-25” of snow with this storm (1.3-1.7 '' SWE). During the storm a skier triggered a slide near Big Sky (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/23/ski-triggered-avalanche"><span><s…;) and Dave and his partner saw a natural avalanche on Buck Ridge (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjdtnwcWPVs"><span><span><span><strong>…;). Snowfall stopped and wind is blowing northeast which is stripping many avalanche starting zones. Although natural avalanches are unlikely today, it is still possible to trigger slides in the new snow or on slopes getting wind-loaded. Cracking or collapsing are signs of instability and these slopes should be avoided.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>For today, the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE on all slopes.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Please share avalanche, snowpack or weather observations via our</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_obs"><span><span><span><span>…; </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span><span>website</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, email (</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>mtavalanche@gmail.com</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs). </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In the last few days, Island Park received almost a foot of new snow. Wind has blown this snow into drifts and avalanches are possible on all slopes. Cracking or collapsing are signs of instability and these slopes should be avoided. Always follow safe travel protocols and carry a beacon, shovel, and probe.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>