24-25

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Snow is starting to pile up on some slopes at higher elevations and that means it’s time to be thinking about avalanches (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/32030"><span><span><span><span><span><… photos from Friday</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). It doesn’t matter if you’re hiking, hunting, skiing, or ice-climbing; if you’re crossing a slope with snow that’s deep enough to cover the rocks and vegetation, you may be able to trigger a slide.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>A layered snowpack is needed to trigger an avalanche. This means that you should be on the lookout for slopes that help snow before this last storm or where wind has drifted the new snow into multiple layers. Higher elevations, shady slopes, gullies and slopes directly beneath ridgelines are the places where you’re more likely to find these conditions. New snow falling on dirt is less concerning.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>It can be hard to turn your avalanche brain on when you’re starting out at a muddy trailhead and it’s been six months since you last thought about snow, but if you do find snow deeper than mid-calf, all the typical mid-winter travel advice applies. Everyone in your group needs avalanche rescue gear (beacon, shovel and probe). Only expose one person at a time to avalanche terrain while a partner watches from a safe spot. Watch for red flags that indicate instability, such as recent avalanche activity, cracking and collapsing. If you see these signs - avoid steep slopes.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Slopes with continuous snow cover are not only the most likely place to trigger an avalanche, but also the most attractive place to ski or ride. This is a scary combination if you’re searching out early season turns. Dig down and test the snowpack for instability before considering travel in avalanche terrain. Avalanches of wind-drifted snow will be shallow and generally small, but even small slides can injure or be fatal, especially if they drag you into rocks or trees.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>If this all sounds like more work than you want to deal with in early November, don’t worry. You can keep things simple by just avoiding steep, snow covered slopes. Take the extra few minutes to walk around that drifted gully or find a windswept ridge to hike up instead of crossing that loaded bowl.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>We are preparing for winter and will collect snowpack information as the snow builds up. If you have avalanche, snowpack or weather observations to share, please submit them via our </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="blank"><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><a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The mountains are turning white which means avalanche season is here. There is 0-8” of settled snow at weather stations and many slopes have grass and rocks poking through or are still bare ground. However, there is a slightly deeper snowpack on high elevation, shady slopes, especially where snow from earlier storms was drifted deeper in gullies and near ridgelines. These slopes are where you could find a layered snowpack and trigger an avalanche.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Watch out for steep slopes where recent snow has drifted into a slab on top of older snow. Because few slopes exist with a deeper snowpack, they are not only the most likely place to trigger an avalanche, but also the most attractive place to ski or ride. A scary combination. Avalanches of wind-drifted snow will be shallow and generally small, but even small slides can injure or be fatal, especially if they drag you into rocks, trees, over cliffs or pile up deep in a confined gully.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Early season avalanches in southwest Montana have seriously injured and buried skiers (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accident/12/10/31"><span><span><span><stron… Incident Report</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>), caught and injured hunters (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accident/15/11/06"><span><span><span><stron… Incident Report</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>), and resulted in tragic fatalities (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/accident/17/10/12"><span><span><span><stron… Incident Report</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Whether you are skiing, hunting, ice-climbing or hiking you should consider the potential for avalanches if you travel on snow covered slopes. Choose slopes less than 30 degrees steep to avoid being in avalanche terrain, or carefully assess the snowpack for unstable drifts before riding or crossing steep slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Remember the basics of avalanche safety if you plan to travel on snow-covered slopes.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<ul>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Beacons, shovels and&nbsp;probes&nbsp;are requisite equipment for each party member. Helmets and airbags are excellent additions.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Only expose one person at a time to avalanche terrain (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d5_vlY-bjg"><span><span><span><span><s… steeper than 30 degrees</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>) while partners look on from a safe area nearby.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Watch for red flags that indicate instability, such as recent avalanche activity, cracking and collapsing. If these are present, avoid steep slopes.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>If there is enough snow to ride, there is enough snow to slide. Dig down and test the snowpack for instability before considering travel in avalanche terrain.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Before you get out this season, check over your avalanche gear (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtube.com/watch?v=Izkv4IIUmbk"><span><span><span><strong><spa…;), refresh your skills by practicing avalanche rescue with your backcountry partners (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1xuaaSq4YU"><span><span><span><strong>…;) and sign up for an avalanche class. Our </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/workshops/calendar"><span><span><span><stro… calendar</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> lists local courses the Friends of the Avalanche Center and other regional providers offer.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>