21-22

<p>While the long fall continues in the valleys of Southwest Montana, this season’s snowpack is developing in the mountains (albeit painfully slowly) and we are well into avalanche season. This weekend skiers in Beehive Basin and Hyalite Canyon observed small slab avalanches resulting from recent wind loading and pinwheels that indicate surface snow warming (<a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/windslab-and-pinwheels-beehive-basin-… photo</u></strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/small-wind-slab-avalanche-hyalite-can… 1</u></strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/shooting-cracks-mt-blackmore"><strong…;). Strong winds through the middle of the week will drift soft snow into unstable slabs that you should avoid. The better coverage found on wind-drifted slopes may entice us, but this is where avalanches are most likely to occur.</p>

<p>While the snowpack structure varies on the slope scale, we know weak layers, like the one that Alex describes in his <a href="https://youtu.be/oF8q1tMQuh8"><strong><u>video</u></strong></a&gt; from Cooke City, exist across the advisory area. Skiers are reporting them from snowpits in the Bridger, Gallatin, and Madison Ranges (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/sites/default/files/styles/very_large_1200w… 1</u></strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://mtavalanche.com/images/21/shallow-snowpack-bridger-range"><stro…;). Carefully evaluate snowpack stability and the consequences of getting caught in an avalanche with sharp rocks just inches below you. Terrain traps such as trees, cliffs, rocks, and gullies exacerbate these consequences.</p>

<p>We appreciate the observations you all have submitted this season. You are helping us develop a more complete understanding of this season’s snowpack by submitting observations <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>here<…;. Now, THINK SNOW!</p>

<p>We are preparing for winter, teaching avalanche classes, and setting up weather stations. If you have avalanche, snowpack or weather observations to share please submit them via our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/add/snow_observation"><strong><u>websi…;, email (<a href="mailto:mtavalanche@gmail.com"><strong><u>mtavalanche@gmail.com</u></str…;), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>