17-18

<p>Since Wednesday, the mountains near Cooke City received over 4 feet of snow equal to 4” of snow water equivalent (<strong><a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/or/snow/?cid=nrcs142p2…;). This rapid, heavy load combined with strong wind makes natural and human triggered avalanches likely today. Yesterday, large wind slabs were triggered by snowmobilers from adjacent flat terrain (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/snowmobile-triggered-wind-slab-co…;, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/snowmobile-triggered-wind-slab-2-…;) and multiple natural avalanches were observed (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/avalanche-near-road-cooke-city">p…;, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/natural-avalanche-near-zimmer-cre…;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/large-natural-avalanche-cooke-cit…;). On Thursday, a skier triggered and was partially buried by a 2’ deep, 200’ wide slide in Sheep Creek.</p>

<p>Today, the avalanche danger is <strong>HIGH</strong> on all slopes. Avoid all steep slopes as well as connected, less steep terrain below.</p>

<p>In the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone, the southern Madison and southern Gallatin ranges, a weak and unstable snowpack has been pushed to its breaking point by recent snow and wind loading. Two days ago, Doug observed multiple natural avalanches in the Lionhead area (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85UQeqSWXqk&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvQSYtIf…;, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/lionhead-crown"><strong>photo</st…;). Yesterday, riders in Tepee creek observed natural and snowmobile triggered avalanches (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/snowmobile-triggered-slide-tepee-…;, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/natural-avalanche-tepee-creek">ph…;), and Eric experienced large collapses and saw avalanches near Bacon Rind (<strong><a href="https://youtu.be/iEGue4T9rzo">video</a></strong&gt;, <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/17/avalanche-road-cut-191">photo</a>…;).</p>

<p>Under these conditions, avalanches can be triggered remotely from flat terrain. This means you can trigger an entire slope from flat or low angle terrain below. The message in <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P09pZbPKy9U&amp;feature=youtu.be">this recent video</a></strong> from the UAC is clear and concise, “that’s enough to kill somebody”.</p>

<p>Today, the avalanche danger is <strong>HIGH</strong> on all slopes. Avoid all steep slopes as well as connected, less steep terrain below.</p>

<p>The mountains near Bozeman and Big Sky received 1-2 feet of heavy snow over the last two days. Since yesterday morning, the Brackett creek SNOTEL in the Bridger Range and Timber station at the Yellowstone Club recorded 1.5” of snow water equivalent (<strong><a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/or/snow/?cid=nrcs142p2…;). Strong wind last night and today will drift this heavy snow into slabs 2-4’ thick that are easy to trigger and could avalanche naturally. Yesterday, a skier was caught and injured in an avalanche on the west side of the Bridger Range. Today, avalanches are easy to trigger and natural avalanches are likely on wind loaded slopes. Avalanche terrain should be avoided. Avalanche danger is <strong>HIGH</strong> on wind loaded slopes and <strong>CONSIDERABLE</strong> on non-wind loaded slopes.</p>

<p>If you get out and have any avalanche or snowpack observations to share, drop a line via our <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation">website</a&gt;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com">mtavalanche@gmail.com</a&gt;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>