Island Park

Wet loose avalanches are the primary avalanche problem which could easily knock you over and carry you down a slope. Many slopes will remain generally frozen or dry, and have a stable snowpack. It is not unreasonable to ski or ride steep terrain right now, but keep an eye out for small pockets of unstable snow, especially where a slide could push you over cliffs or into trees, and follow normal safety precautions.

Today will be warm, and skies will clear by this afternoon, but the snowpack should stay colder compared to yesterday due to cloud cover, winds and slightly lower temperatures. Above freezing temperatures and sunshine will soften the snow surface and make wet loose avalanches the primary problem which could easily knock you over and carry you down a slope.

Yesterday we received reports of wet loose avalanches, both natural and human triggered, that happened over the last couple days (N. Bridgers, Cooke City, full list of avalanches). Similar slides are possible today on slopes that receive direct sunshine, where the snow surface softens and gets wet more than a couple inches deep. Steep slopes with rocky outcrops are the most suspect place for wet loose slides, and should be avoided if you find a wet snow surface.

We have had reports of cornices breaking off ridgelines during the heat of the day (observation). Minimize time spent on slopes below overhanging cornices, and give them plenty of space while traveling along ridgelines.  

On steep, shady slopes where the snowpack has remained dry a person can trigger dry loose avalanches made up of weak, sugary facets. These won’t be huge, but can be a surprise and knock you over, so be heads up on sustained steep slopes with a sugary, unsupportive snowpack. Also, keep in mind that the weak, sugary snow will be under the next snowfall, and could cause the danger to be much worse next week.

Although unlikely, on high shady slopes there may be an unstable drift or two that formed last week (observation). 

Today, many slopes will remain generally frozen or dry, and have a stable snowpack. It is not unreasonable to ski or ride steep terrain right now, but keep an eye out for small pockets of unstable snow, especially where a slide could push you over cliffs or into trees, and follow normal safety precautions.

The avalanche danger is MODERATE for wet slides in the Bridger Range, Northern Madison and Northern Gallatin Ranges, and at lower elevations near Cooke City, West Yellowstone and Island Park.

King and Queen of The Ridge Fund-Raiser

If you missed out on sign up for King and Queen, but want to support The Friends of the Avalanche Center, you can donate to a participant or team campaign by 1:30pm: Eventgroove Fundraising