Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p><u>WET AVALANCHES</u>: Yesterday’s above freezing temperatures made a few wet loose snow slides and pinwheels of snow rolling downhill on sunny, low-elevation slopes. At higher elevations the snow surface either stayed dry or only moistened slightly. Today will be warmer and pinwheels, roller balls and sinking into wet snow past your ankles are signs the snow is wet enough to slide. Seek shady, cooler aspects and stay away from steep slopes that are absorbing heat from the sun. </p>
<p>A skier saw a recently triggered large avalanche on a NW aspect of Big Horn Peak in Specimen Creek yesterday (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/21/large-avalanche-big-horn-peak"><s…;). Further to the southwest, Dave and Ian rode around Lionhead and did not see recent avalanches, but did find sugary snow at the ground, some of the weakest they’ve seen. The snow structure is poor (weak snow underlying a dense slab) and triggering an avalanche is still a possibility, although a decreasing one. A few miles north of them in Red Canyon a snowbiker triggered a slide on this layer on Sunday. And on Buck Ridge skiers triggered two avalanches simultaneously that same day (<a href="https://mtavalanche.com/node/24484"><strong><u>details, photos</u></strong></a>, and our <a href="https://youtu.be/8JxETara_7o"><strong><u>investigation video</u></strong></a>). An <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CL4xIk5n8PZ/"><strong><u>Instagram post of the avalanche</u></strong></a> and another with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CL-O-73AT5N/"><strong><u>drone footage and a thoughtful analysis</u></strong></a> offer good lessons on decision-making, terrain choice and stability assessment. </p>
<p>No matter the result, a stability test is never a thumbs-up to go into avalanche terrain. It should only be used to stop us. This may seem counterintuitive, but it’s true. Tests inform us when things are unstable and not the other way around. This is especially relevant this season as weak, sugary facets at the ground (depth hoar) are notorious for avalanching when we do not expect it, hence the title of our latest video, “<a href="https://youtu.be/sEjcbv4AWYQ"><strong><u>Low Probability, High Consequences</u></strong></a>”. </p>
<p>With the snowpack becoming wet, plus a weak layer at the ground and recent avalanches, the danger is rated MODERATE on all slopes.</p>
<p>Yesterday, the mountains around Cooke City stayed cool and wet avalanches were not a hazard. It will be slightly warmer today and a few wet loose slides may release on sunny slopes. As a whole, the snowpack is mostly stable because it lacks widespread weak layers. A person could get unlucky on a slope with thin snow cover where pockets of weak facets could avalanche, or you may find a rogue wind drift to release. Even though we are not expecting avalanches, carry rescue gear and only expose one person at a time on a slope, because sometimes the unexpected happens and being prepared is the difference between a good story and tragedy. In general, it’s unlikely to trigger a slide today and the avalanche danger is rated LOW. </p>
<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>websi…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong><u>mtavalanche@gmail.com</u></str…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>
The Beacon Park at Beall Park in Bozeman is running!
The Friends of the Avalanche Center in partnership with the City of Bozeman put in a Beacon Park at Beall Park. It is located on the north side of the Beall building between N. Bozeman Ave. and the ice rink.
