Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Strong south and west winds are creating fresh drifts out of the snow that fell this last week. Avalanches could break in the newly drifted snow or on weak layers deeper in the snowpack. Skiers this week triggered a couple of thin wind slabs (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27633"><span><span><span><strong><span…; </span></span></strong></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/27648"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). With increased winds overnight they will be more widespread today. Look out for pillows of drifted snow and steer around them to avoid triggering a slide. Cracks shooting out in front of your skis or sled are clear signs that you’ve found unstable drifts. These drifts will be most dangerous where they’re deepest and where they’re sitting over persistent weak layers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The most worrisome weak layer is a surface hoar layer buried about a foot deep (tending to be deeper in southern areas and slightly shallower to the north). We’ve found it all over the advisory area, even on wind affected slopes where surface hoar usually gets destroyed before being buried (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk_6xgHgTCo"><span><span><span><strong>… ridge</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/1mFc__nNwIk"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/ECi646U0Rtg"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>… Fork</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/iBS_5itbX_U"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>… City</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Last night’s wind may have transported enough snow to tip the scale on this layer and cause avalanches. Dig down to test this layer before riding steep slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>There is also still weak snow in the middle of the snowpack and near the ground. You’re most likely to trigger an avalanche on these facets from a thin spot. Identify and avoid likely thin areas and be on high alert if you’re suddenly punching through to the ground (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/23/sinking-waist-deep-faceted-snow">… waist deep into facets photo</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Stability tests are not going to be very helpful in identifying slopes where these layers are unstable, so simply toning down your terrain choices is the best solution. Make sure you have a partner watching from a safe spot if you’re riding steep slopes. Large avalanches remain possible and the danger is rated MODERATE across the advisory area.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Please share avalanche, snowpack or weather observations via our</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_obs"><span><span><span><span>…; </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span><span>website</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, email (</span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>mtavalanche@gmail.com</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs). </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>In Island Park, strong south and southwest winds are creating fresh drifts out of the snow that fell this last week and new snow today. Avalanches could break in the newly drifted snow or on weak layers deeper in the snowpack. The most worrisome weak layer is a surface hoar layer buried about a foot deep. Dig down to test this layer before riding steep slopes. Tone down your terrain choices in case you trigger a deeper slide. If heavy snowfall materializes today, instability will rise rapidly.</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.