24-25

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Snowfall from last Thursday to Monday:</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<ul>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>West Yellowstone - 37” snow/2.9” water</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Island Park - 46” snow/4.8” water</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span><span><span><span><span><span>Cooke City - 31” snow/2.9” water</span></span></span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>This snow was accompanied by strong winds from the west and southwest peaking Sunday night with gusts 65-100 mph. Yesterday winds blew from the north..</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind slabs</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> or possibly deeper </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>persistent slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> are likely on wind loaded slopes that can easily have double or triple the loading compared to non-wind loaded slopes as my partners and I found </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34670"><span><span><span><span><span><… near Mt. Jefferson</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>. Dave spotted many wind slab avalanches </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34657"><span><span><span><span><span><… Lionhead on Monday</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Avalanches are much less likely and the riding conditions will be better on slopes sheltered from the wind where the new snow is well bonded to itself. However, so much new snow has way of exposing weakness in the snowpack (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34599"><span><span><span><span><span><… avalanche in the Taylor Fork</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> is a good example). There are some slopes lurking out there mostly near West Yellowstone and the southern Gallatin and Madison Ranges where the snowpack is relatively shallow and weaker (slopes above Trapper Creek near Hebgen Lake come to mind).&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today human triggered avalanches are likely to happen on wind loaded slopes where the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE. The avalanche danger on non-wind loaded slopes is MODERATE but don’t let your guard down.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The Bridger Range received up to 15 inches of snow Sunday and Monday. Near Big Sky and Hyalite Canyon 14-24 inches of snow has fallen since late last week. Winds from both the south and the north have drifted that snow and formed many </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>wind slabs</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>As Ian and his partner found </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34666"><span><span><span><span><span><… near the Throne</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, safe travel simply required avoiding recent drifting and riding slopes unaffected by the wind. A group further north </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34665"><span><span><span><span><span><… Frazier basin</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> found wind slabs 1-1.5’ deep that could avalanche. These wind slabs should be gaining strength today, but I’d still avoid them.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Loose wet avalanches </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>will happen predictably today as strong spring sunshine quickly warms sunny slopes which will become wet. Most wet avalanche activity usually happens the first time dry powder heats up from sunshine. The greatest threat from loose wet avalanches isn’t necessarily triggering one, but having one rumble down onto you from above. Go to shady slopes without recent drifting for the best snow and riding quality.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE with heightened avalanche conditions on wind-loaded slopes and sunny slopes where the snow becomes wet.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>