Friday, January 2, 2009

Avalanche Warning: HIGH

image by GNFAC
Snowmobiler triggered avalanche near Cooke City

From the GNFAC this morning:

AVALANCHE WARNING

ISSUED ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2009 AT 6:00 am

The full advisory will be posted and sent at 7:30 am

The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center continues a Backcountry
Avalanche Warning for the southern Gallatin and southern Madison Ranges, the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone, the mountains around Cooke City and the Washburn Range in northern Yellowstone National Park. Nearly continuous snowfall has kept the snowpack at its breaking point. Natural and human triggered avalanches have occurred on many slopes which have been reloaded by new snow and wind drifted snow. These slopes will produce more avalanches. With heavy snowfall predicted to occur today, the avalanche danger remains HIGH on all slopes. The snowpack is very unstable. Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. Avalanche terrain and avalanche runout zones should be avoided.

In the Bridger, northern Gallatin and northern Madison Ranges the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE.

This warning will either be terminated or updated by 6:30 a.m. on January 3, 2009

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