Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today’s weather won’t feel as intense as the blizzard conditions going on yesterday, but that doesn’t mean that avalanche conditions are any less dangerous. </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Persistent Slab</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> and </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind Slab </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>avalanches are the primary concerns, with thinner, lingering </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Storm Slabs</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> a secondary concern.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Weak layers now buried 1-2 ft deep (and deeper on windloaded slopes) have been loaded by snowfall over the last week and Persistent Slab avalanches breaking on them will remain easy to trigger. These weak layers appear to be more widespread around West Yellowstone than in the rest of the advisory area, but they have been found elsewhere (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34043"><span><span><span><span><span><…. Ellis observation</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>), so be on the lookout for them wherever you’re traveling. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Windloaded slopes could avalanche regardless of whether or not there are weak layers underneath. With the very strong and shifting winds over the last couple days, any slope could be windloaded, regardless of aspect or elevation. Shifting winds and several rounds of snowfall may have masked visual clues of wind loading, so pay close attention to the feel of the snow under your feet or sled and be wary of any slope until you confirm it hasn’t been loaded.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Storm slab avalanches were easily triggered yesterday and propagated long distances, despite being fairly shallow (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34058"><span><span><span><span><span><… observation</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34051"><span><span><span><span><span><… observation</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Without active snowfall, these won’t be as reactive as yesterday, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some were still triggered today. So, don’t let your guard down, even on slopes that aren’t windloaded and don’t have recently buried persistent weak layers.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Cautious route-finding is the name of the game today. Either avoid slopes steeper than 30 degrees or carefully evaluate the snowpack before getting onto those steeper slopes. Look for signs of wind-loading, weak layers in the upper 2 feet of the snowpack, or lingering, reactive storm snow.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Across the advisory area, the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE today.</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