Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Although the calendar says “spring” the snowpack says “winter”. I am told spring will be here any day now, but not today. Mountain temperatures are chilly and even with the sun climbing higher in the sky, wet avalanches are not on the menu. Instead we need to keep in mind two avalanche concerns:</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<ol>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanches breaking in recent wind drifts 1-2 feet deep, and</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Deep slab avalanches breaking 5-6 feet deep from a weak layer that was buried in January.</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ol>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Wind slabs are prevalent. Although a couple days old, slopes with the added weight from wind-loading are our #1 concern. Many avalanches from wind drifting occurred on Sunday, and Dave made a </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCGTZlvG5-E"><span><span><span><strong>…; of avalanche activity in Beaver Creek. There were also slides and whumphing reported in the </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28928"><span><span><span><strong><span… Range</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, in </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28941"><span><span><span><strong><span… Basin</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, and near </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28936"><span><span><span><strong><span… City</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>Deeper avalanches will be difficult to trigger, but they will be large and deadly. On Sunday, a few deep slab avalanches broke naturally in the Bridger Range at </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28900"><span><span><span><strong><span… Lake</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> and </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28924%5C"><span><span><span><strong><s… City</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><strong><span><span>.</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> Dave and Alex were in Lionhead on Monday and saw a deep slab avalanche on Bald Peak which they chronicled in a </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/28949"><span><span><span><strong><span…;. Our </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/weather/wx-avalanche-log"><span><span><span… and Avalanche Log</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> list all reported activity. With every substantial snow storm we are seeing big avalanches. Although there are not many of them, they are in every mountain range and will keep us alert well into the spring.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Typically, April is a month of increasing stability from warming temperatures, but not this year, at least not yet. A layered winter snowpack is still with us. For today, avalanches are still possible and I recommend playing on slopes sheltered from the wind. Deep avalanches, although rare, make my palms sweat. Sticking to lower angled terrain or slopes that have clean runout zones is a safer travel strategy than blind luck. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger on all slopes in our forecast area is rated </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>MODERATE</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>. </span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Our last daily forecast will be this Sunday, April 9. We will issue weather and avalanche observations every Monday and Friday through April. 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>
<p>Wind slabs are prevalent. Although a couple days old, slopes with the added weight from wind-loading are our #1 concern. Deeper avalanches will be difficult to trigger, but they will be large and deadly. With every substantial snow storm we are seeing big avalanches. Although rare, they are in every mountain range. I recommend playing on slopes sheltered from the wind and sticking to lower angled terrain or slopes that have clean runout zones.</p>
