WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22nd

   Good morning, this is Doug Chabot with your Gallatin National Forest
   Avalanche Advisory issued on Wednesday, January 22nd, at 7:30 am.
   Polaris and Team Bozeman, in cooperation with the Friends of the
   Avalanche Center, sponsor todays advisory, which does not apply to
   operating ski areas.

   WEATHER

   Yesterdays collision of cold and moist air over Bozeman sure was
   impressive. The snow was blowing so hard I couldve used my goggles
   walking down Main Street last night. The northern mountains picked up
   three to four inches of new snow while most southern areas, starting
   from around Big Sky, picked up six to nine inches. Unbelievably, the
   Lionhead area was late to the party and only got a couple inches. The
   cold air that muscled its way in didnt get very far south. As of 5 am
   the Bridgers were reading 4F while its 20F in the southern Madisons.
   Winds were strong out of the southwest as the snow fell, averaging
   15-25 mph with gusts exceeding 40 mph. Today we should see scattered
   showers with a better shot of snow tonight as another system on the
   coast marches toward us, although Im only expecting two to four inches
   by morning. Mountain temperatures should warm into the lower teens up
   north and mid-twenties down south.

   SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE DISCUSSION

   The Bridgers, northern Gallatin, and northern Madison Ranges,
   including the Lionhead Area near West Yellowstone

   The northern mountains received three to four inches of light density
   snow. The snow water equivalent that was added is only .1 to .2
   inchesnot very much. In the Lionhead area, a similar amount of weight
   was added to the pack. While the new snow amounts arent impressive,
   this isnt the case in areas that are wind- loaded. The wind blew as
   the storm came through and still remains strong. Additionally, these
   winds were not confined to the ridgetop, so youll want to stay clear
   of wind pillows on the lower elevations too. These areas could see
    slabs of snow up to a foot thick that would be quite sensitive to
   triggering today. In the south we have a layer of buried  surface
   hoar were worried about, while up north the old Thanksgiving ice layer
   and  facets will be the weak link. If you can find slopes that were
   not affected by the wind youll probably find good powder, but on
   slopes with a dense wind  slab, youll want to stay clear.

   For today, for the Bridger, northern Gallatin, and northern Madison
   Ranges (defined as the area north of Big Sky), including the Lionhead
   area near West Yellowstone, the  avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE
   on all wind- loaded slopes and MODERATE elsewhere. Remember, a
   considerable danger means youll probably  trigger a slide.

   The southern Gallatin and southern Madison Ranges, the mountains
   around Cooke City and the Washburn Range

   The Big Sky area and mountains south, including the Cooke City area,
   received six to nine inches of new snow measuring .3 to .5 inches of
   water. This is double the  load that the northern areas received,
   and these mountains were also windy. With Tuesdays snowfall added in,
   these mountains have gotten almost a foot of new snow. We know that
   the mountains around Cooke City have a buried  surface hoar layer.
   Although many of these slopes already slid, youll want to be extra
   careful on slopes that didnt. This layer exists in our other areas
   too, but its not as well developed. Regardless of the  weak layer,
   all this new snow with be extra sensitive today in areas where its
   been wind- loaded since theres an ample supply of snow to get blown
   around. I wouldnt even think of getting on anything steep and
   wind- loaded today since Id expect to see widespread avalanches on
   these slopes.

   For today, for the southern Gallatin and southern Madison Ranges, the
   mountains around Cooke City and the Washburn Range, the  avalanche
   danger is HIGH on all wind- loaded slopes steeper than 35 degrees
   and CONSIDERABLE elsewhere.

   CANADIAN AVALANCHE FATALITIES

   The details of the avalanche accident in the Selkirks are still vague.
   I imagine well get more information as the survivors get flown out of
   the mountains. The seven deaths are tragic and our hearts and
   condolences go out to all the family and friends of the deceased. The
   Westwide Avalanche Network has a updated posting on the slide at

    http://www.avalanche.org/av-reports/proc-show.php3?OID10418036

   Ron will issue the next advisory tomorrow morning at 7:30 am. If you
   get out in the backcountry give us a call with your observations. You
   can leave a message at 587-6984 or e-mail to us at
   gnfac@avalanche.org.
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