Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The Bridger Range received the most snow totaling about 20 inches, and yesterday the Bridger Bowl Ski Patrol was still able to trigger some soft slab avalanches 12-16 inches deep in pockets, but generally the new snow had begun stabilizing.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Winds have been minimal, but places near the ridge under cornices that received some drifting will still be the most likely places to trigger a </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>soft wind slab</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>. The odds of triggering a </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>storm slab avalanche</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> on a slope without any drifting have gone down a lot, but there will still be </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>decent sluffing</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> in the steepest terrain. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>I’d feel comfortable getting into steep terrain today, but I’d avoid spots where winds previously drifted snow, and I’d choose slopes with a runout free of rocks or trees in case I triggered a small pocket of storm snow. Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanche conditions are generally safe with minimal wind limiting wind slab formation, and cool temperatures and clouds today preventing wet snow problems. Ian and Dave found stable snow yesterday </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34822"><span><span><span><span><span><… Buck Ridge just south of Big Sky</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Two avalanches yesterday</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> are great examples of what to look for today. A group </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34824"><span><span><span><span><span><… Beehive Basin just north of Big Sky</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> found stable snow in steep terrain except for one pocket in a couloir where winds had stiffened the new snow. They triggered but were not caught in a soft slab avalanche about 6 inches deep and 60 feet wide. Another group </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34826"><span><span><span><span><span><… Cooke City</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> triggered a soft wind slab 6-10 inches deep and 40 feet wide.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Be on the lookout for isolated places where winds have drifted snow and where you could trigger a soft wind slab. Be especially cautious in terrain where simply falling could be dangerous. A tragic accident </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accident/15/04/15"><span><span><span><span>… years ago in April on Beehive Peak</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> is worth reading about and learning from. Today the avalanche danger is LOW. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
