19-20

<p>Over the last two days 4-6” has fallen over our forecast area. This is not enough snow to increase the avalanche danger, but is enough to keep us on our toes. We have a weak layer of sugary snow near the ground that continues to exhibit instability. Monday’s large snow storm in the Bridger Range (7” of very dense snow) was enough to trigger a 5-10’ deep avalanche on Naya Nuki Peak (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/avalanche-naya-nuki">photo</a></s…;). Since then, natural avalanches have not been seen, but stability tests are breaking on this layer, a warning that human-triggered avalanches are not out of the question. On Tuesday, Ian and I saw this in Beehive Basin (<strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/beehive-basin-still-showing-some-…;, <strong><a href="https://youtu.be/Zu3Ckyt7qj4">video</a></strong&gt;), Dave had the same on Buck Ridge (<strong><a href="https://youtu.be/rhyqSqB4w8c">video</a></strong&gt;), and sledders and skiers in Taylor Fork and Hyalite also got this layer to release in their tests.</p>

<p>The Lionhead area and the mountains around Cooke City have been quiet with no recent avalanche activity, cracking or collapsing. However, the weak layer of sugary facets is buried deep in these mountains and still breaking in tests last weekend in Cooke City. These results gives me slight pause even though the stability trend is positive.</p>

<p>In the absence of visual clues that slopes are unstable (avalanches or “whumphs”) we rely on digging to get the information we need. If you are heading onto a steep slope perform a stability test as one last step in your assessment before committing. I’m a fan of the <strong><a href="https://youtu.be/6s9LND3-gho">Extended Column Test</a></strong>. If the column breaks clean, at the very least it will instigate a robust discussion with your partners, and might even change your plans.</p>

<p>For today, avalanches are still possible and the danger is rated MODERATE. Additionally, wet, loose snow avalanches might sluff off steep slopes getting baked by the sun.</p>

<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can fill out an&nbsp;<u><strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation">observation form</a></strong></u>, email us (<u><strong><a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com">mtavalanche@gmail.com</a></strong></u&gt;), leave a VM at 406-587-6984, or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>

<p>In the last 24 hours, the mountains from Big Sky through West Yellowstone received 4-6” of snow equal to 0.3-0.4” <a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/or/snow/?cid=nrcs142p2… water equivalent</a> (SWE). Other ranges received 1-3” (0.1-0.3” of SWE). The added weight of the new snow on a weak snowpack warrants extra caution if you are considering entering avalanche terrain today. Avalanches within the new snow are the most likely problem. These will be most concerning in high consequence terrain where a small avalanche could be dangerous. Less likely, but more frightening are large avalanches that could break on weak snow deep in the snowpack and fail over a wide area.</p>

<p>Doug and Ian collected field data in Beehive Basin yesterday and found the sugary snow near the bottom of the snowpack was still weak and able to produce an avalanche (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/beehive-basin-still-showing-some-…;, <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu3Ckyt7qj4&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvSbcbVf…;). I dug a snowpit yesterday in Second Yellowmule and found that while it is becoming more difficult to trigger an avalanche, the potential for a giant slide is still real for an unlucky skier or rider (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/2nd-yellowmule-profile-28-jan-202…;, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhyqSqB4w8c"><strong>video</strong></a&…;). My pit was close to the <strong><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/21453">massive avalanche</a></strong> that broke three weeks ago, snow and wind have nearly erased the evidence that the slide ever occurred, in its place are enormous cornices that could break far back from the edge (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/20/massive-cornices-buck-ridge-28-ja…;). One skier north of Bridger Bowl was surprised yesterday with numerous unstable extended column tests propagating failure when before the storm, his tests showed stable results. The information we gathered in the Northern Madison Range yesterday corresponds to what we have seen across our advisory area. Go to our <strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXu5151nmAvSbcbVfoR785MxkqkNVy8P… page</a></strong> for quick summaries of all the recent data we collected in the field.</p>

<p>We are maintaining a status quo outlook on avalanches, the snowpack, and travel advice. Read the <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/blog/2019-2020-mid-season-snowpack-summary-… snowpack summary</strong></a> to catch up on this year’s snowpack and avalanche activity. Today, you can manage the avalanche problems by assessing the snowpack, making conservative terrain choices, exposing only one person at a time to avalanche hazard, and giving cornices a wide berth if you decide to play on or around steep slopes. Human triggered avalanches are possible, and the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE.</p>

<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can fill out an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong>observat… form</strong></a>, email us (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong>mtavalanche@gmail.com</strong></a…;), leave a VM at 406-587-6984, or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>