Dangerous avalanche conditions continue to pose a serious threat to backcountry travelers today. Cohesive slabs lie upon well developed faceted snow layers and hard crust(s). Above 7500 feet, this hazard is widespread and skiers or riders are likely to trigger slides in avalanche terrain. Below 7500 feet, the hazard is limited to isolated areas. Understanding this problem and making conservative terrain choices is essential in avoiding accidents today. The Gallatin N.F.A.C. has reported the fourth U.S. avalanche fatality of the season that occurred when a snowmobiler triggered a slide from below a slope in the southern Madison range earlier this week.
The problematic, persistent weak snow layers could still fail as a person first enters avalanche terrain or after a slope has been previously tracked. Above 7500 feet, these slabs could have depths to as much as four feet. At lower elevations slabs twelve to eighteen inches are possible.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )High pressure and inversion conditions will continue. Skies will be mostly sunny and temperatures will begin near twenty degrees and rise to near thirty at higher elevations while valleys start at or below zero and have similar highs. Winds are to be northwesterly and Light.The general avalanche hazard will be Considerable above 7500 feet. Slab avalanches could be triggered as the first person impacts a slope or after it has been tracked several times. These slabs could have depths to four feet. This hazard exists just below 7500 on northerthly aspects in wind loaded areas with much smaller slab depths.
