Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanche conditions are dangerous and a person can easily trigger avalanches on steep slopes. In the southern parts of our forecast area snowfall has been minimal for a few days, and in the Bridger Range nearly a week has passed without snow. Despite a lack of new snow to load the snowpack we continue to hear of recent avalanches and signs of instability. This shows a widespread unstable snowpack and the high potential to trigger an avalanche on any steep slope. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Yesterday we rode around Lionhead Ridge and saw dozens of avalanches that occurred on all aspects and elevations at various times over the last week, some as recent as Thursday (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30278"><span><span><span><strong><span… and observation</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.youtube.com/watch?v=LKXiHCgovsk&list=PLXu5151nmAvSH326z…;). Also yesterday, Big Sky ski patrol triggered a very large avalanche on the North Summit Snowfield (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30303"><span><span><span><strong><span…;), and Bridger Ski Patrol triggered a couple 12-18” deep slabs, all with explosive mitigation in areas that have been closed so far this season.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>We have had reports of avalanches and collapsing and cracking every day for the last three weeks (see the </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> for the full list). Some notable recent activity includes:</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>A slide likely triggered by a skier low on Saddle Peak on Thursday (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30261"><span><span><span><strong><span…;).</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Apparently natural, large avalanches near Cooke City that likely broke on Thursday (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30282"><span><span><span><strong><span…;).</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>A large slide on Buck Ridge that appeared to have happened Thursday (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30299"><span><span><span><strong><span…;).</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Riders in Tepee Basin had cracks shoot 100 ft in front of them while sidehilling a low angled slope (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30269"><span><span><span><strong><span…;).</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Skiers remotely triggered avalanches multiple days in a row near Cooke City (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30267"><span><span><span><strong><span…;).</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanches have been triggered from hundreds of feet away (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/30257"><span><span><span><strong><span… Creek remote trigger</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/30196"><span><span><span><strong><span… Ridge avalanche</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>) which means you need to be cautious traveling near and underneath steep slopes. Carefully choose your route of travel. Find slopes less than 30 degrees steep which are not directly below or connected to anything steeper (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d5_vlY-bjg&list=PLXu5151nmAvSH326z… about terrain assessment</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Human triggered avalanches are likely and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events
Our education calendar is full of awareness lectures and field courses. Check it out: Events and Education Calendar.