22-23

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>There are two major avalanche concerns today - avalanches breaking in the new and windblown snow and deep slab avalanches.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>As it snows and the new snow is drifted, expect to trigger small slides. These avalanches will get deeper and more dangerous as the snowfall piles up later this afternoon. Be wary once more than a couple inches of snow have accumulated, especially in places where a small slide could push you into rocks, trees, or gullies. Bursts of rapid snowfall will make the new snow very reactive. Slides could also break a little deeper on new snow from earlier in the week. Watch for cracks shooting out in front of your skis or sled as a sign that the new snow is unstable and ready to avalanche on steep slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The less likely, but larger and much more dangerous concern is deep slab avalanches. Yesterday, an avalanche near Daisy Pass, outside Cooke City, broke 4 ft deep and 150 ft wide and caught two snowmobilers (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28785"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/100004284780258/videos/1424658804963632?idorva…;). One rider suffered a femur fracture, requiring a helicopter flight to the hospital. We also got reports of a deep slab avalanche that broke recently (and may have been skier triggered) on Elephant Mtn. in Hyalite Canyon (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28798"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). The deepest part of the crown was estimated to be 8-10 ft deep. Everytime it has snowed in the last month we’ve seen a deep slab avalanche break somewhere in our advisory area (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://youtu.be/ncKRJpdC-iE"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>… video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ0l4TlIh_I&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvTi1DBS… Fork video</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/cTqk-2D4nwY"><span><span><span><strong><span><u><span>… City avalanche video</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). This makes us nervous of even the relatively small snowfall amounts we’re expecting today. Avoidance is the only failsafe way to deal with this problem. If you do choose to take your chances and ride slopes steeper than 30 degrees, be obsessed with the potential consequences. Choose smaller slopes rather than going for large ones, pay attention to the runout beneath those slopes and select less wind-loaded terrain.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>With heavy snowfall tonight, expect a dramatic increase in the hazard by tomorrow morning.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is MODERATE.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Please share avalanche, snowpack or weather observations via our website, email (mtavalanche@gmail.com), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>