Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today the two main avalanche problems you might encounter are </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>wind slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> and </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>. Yesterday in the Bridger Range, wind slab avalanches were triggered by skiers (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34844"><span><span><span><strong><span… Peak</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/34845"><span><span><span><strong><span… Great One</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>), and some loose snow avalanches ran naturally (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/25/natural-loose-slides-bridge-ridge…;). I had similar </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34848"><span><span><span><strong><span…; near Cooke City where wind slabs were notably more reactive than expected, despite having had some time to stabilize since snowfall tapered off a couple days ago.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Don’t trust old drifts today, and expect any fresh drifts to be easy to trigger. These wind slabs are relatively small, but can easily knock you over and be harmful if they carry you into rocks, over a cliff, or down a long steep slope. A textured or rounded snow surface is a sign the snow has been drifted into a stiffer slab. Be cautious of wind-loaded slopes, especially in terrain where being carried in even a small slide would have high consequences.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>As sunshine and above freezing temperatures melt the snow surface, wet loose avalanches will become possible to trigger and some may run naturally. Soft snow from last week is sitting on firm crusts which could cause wet loose slides to be pretty big and run far. Temperatures are starting warmer and will be higher than yesterday which will probably cause the snowpack to lose strength earlier in the day, and get wet deeper into the snowpack and on slopes that remained dry yesterday.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Expect the snow surface to get weaker through the day, especially on slopes that receive direct sunshine. Sunny slopes will have a crust this morning. Plan to be off steep slopes before the crust melts or the surface gets wet. Moist sticky snow or roller-balls on the surface mean it is time to find lower angle terrain or slopes with colder, dry snow on the surface.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The sunshine and heat will also make </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>cornice falls</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> possible. Along ridgelines, overhanging drifts of snow have become large. As these cornices melt and lose strength they could break naturally or under the weight of a person. Minimize your time on slopes below cornices and stay far back from the edge while travelling on ridgelines above them.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is MODERATE across the forecast area.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
