Dangerous avalanche conditions continue to pose a serious threat to backcountry travelers. At the mid and upper elevations there is a widespread problem involving cohesive slabs lying upon well developed faceted snow layers and hard crusts. Although slightly less sensitive than earlier in the week, skiers and riders are still likely to trigger these 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. )Skies are to be partly cloudy in the morning with increasing clouds in the afternoon. Flurries are possible later on Friday in advance of a stronger system to impact the area Saturday. Temperatures in the upper teens to upper twenties are expected in the mountains and summit winds are to be westerly with ten to twenty miles per hour averages.The general avalanche hazard will remain Considerable above 7500. Unstable slabs could be triggered to depths of four feet in avalanche terrain by the first person on a slope or after it has been tracked several times. Smaller slabs could be triggered on very steep north facing terrain just below that elevation.
