Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1.5–3
Avalanche forecast
View on mapBridger Range
Gallatin NF Avalanche Center
Avalanche danger
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.
Highlights
A little bit of new snow and strong winds are keeping avalanche conditions dangerous, particularly at upper elevations where winds are strongest and the old snow is most prevalent and weakest. Avalanches could break within wind-drifted snow and they also could break on weak snow near the ground. Look for signs of wind drifting and avoid wind-drifted slopes. Also don’t trust any slope that might be harboring old snow near the ground, as avalanches breaking on that snow will be much larger and more dangerous.
Avalanche problems
Wind Slabs
NNEESESSWWNW- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1
Avalanche Discussion
Expect drifting snow at all elevations. After a brief lull yesterday, winds picked up overnight in most areas, and will pick up everywhere by this afternoon.
In the areas with more new snow, Wind Slab avalanches breaking in the drifted snow will be easily triggered and large enough to be quite dangerous. Look for signs of wind drifting and avoid wind-drifted slopes. With strong winds, even slopes that are typically sheltered may have dangerous drifts today.
Around Cooke City, enough snow is falling that especially by this afternoon you could trigger a dangerous avalanche within the new snow, even on slopes that haven’t had any wind drifting.
The even bigger concern today is the weight that is being added to the weak snow at the bottom of the snowpack and larger Persistent Slab avalanches breaking near the ground. There was widespread avalanching the last time these layers got a substantial load, so we should be on high alert as they’re loaded again (examples from that last cycle - Saddle Peak, The Fin, Scotch Bonnet). The weak old snow is more prevalent on higher elevation and shadier slopes. If you’re not sure if these layers are on the slope you want to ride, today is not the day to figure that out. Treat all steep slopes as suspect - you are likely to trigger a large slide if you travel on or below a steep slope with old snow near the ground.
The recipe for the best and safest riding today is to seek out slopes that are:
- Sheltered from the wind
- Either low angle or without weak old snow at the ground
- Have deep enough snow coverage to avoid rocks and logs.
Unfortunately, these slopes may be few and far between today.
Avalanche conditions are dangerous and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE across the advisory area.