24-25

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>You could still trigger a </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Persistent Slab avalanche </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>on weak layers 1-2 ft off the ground. As we get further out from the end of the last loading event, the likelihood of triggering a slide is going down. Still, it’s worth remaining alert, because if you do trigger one of these slides it’ll take out most of the season’s snowpack and be big and destructive. A recent, large, natural avalanche </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33582"><span><span><span><span><span><… Red Mountain</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> in the southern Madison Range, is a good example of the sort of big slide you could still trigger. You’re most likely to trigger one of these slides from a thinner area, whether that’s a lower elevation slope, a thin spot near rocks, or somewhere in the zones around West Yellowstone that generally have a thinner snowpack.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Assessing the likelihood of triggering one of these slides on any given slope is difficult, so your most reasonable options are either to continue avoiding slopes steeper than 30 degrees or to go into avalanche terrain and accept that there is some residual risk of triggering a big slide. If you are getting into avalanche terrain, ride one at a time while your partners wait in a safe spot and make sure everyone in the group has avalanche rescue gear so you are in a good position to respond if you do end up triggering a slide.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Human triggered avalanches are possible and the avalanche danger is MODERATE today.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wind slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> are the primary concern near Bozeman and Big Sky. Yesterday, skiers on Mt. Blackmore observed a fresh slide on the north face with a 1-2 ft deep crown that was already filling back in (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/33587"><span><span><span><span><span><…;). Plumes of snow were visibly drifting off the high peaks in the </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/25/saddle-peak-wind-transport"><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/25/spanish-peaks-wind-transport"><sp…. Madison</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> and</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/25/windy-hyalite"><span><span><span>…; N. Gallatin</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> ranges. Winds have also been blowing at lower elevations, so stay on alert for drifting and cross-loaded gullies down low as well.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>New snow falling today will provide more fuel for ongoing wind loading and could also mask signs of loading from previous days. Keep your eyes out for both new and old wind drifts and either avoid them or assess how well they’re bonded before getting onto a steep slope.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Persistent slab avalanches</span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span> have become mostly unlikely in many areas where the snowpack has gotten deeper, but they are a lingering concern in places with shallower snow (see </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P67rnZVHF7g"><span><span><span><span><s…’s video from Beehive </span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>for a good example).&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger is MODERATE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>