!AVALANCHE WARNING!

   Issued on DECEMBER 28, 2002 at 10:00 am

   The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center is issuing a Backcountry
   Avalanche Warning for our southern mountains. The warning includes the
   southern Madison and southern Gallatin Range, the mountains around
   West Yellowstone, the mountains around Cooke City and the Washburn
   Range in northern Yellowstone National Park. In the last 24 hour,
   approximately a foot to two feet of new snow has fallen in these
   areas. In addition to the new snow, winds have been blowing from the
   west to southwest. This  load of new snow has been deposited and
   weak snowpack. For today, the  avalanche danger is considered HIGH
   on all slopes. Areas of unstable snow exist! Both natural and human
    triggered avalanches are likely. Avalanche terrain and  runout
   ')"> runout
   zones should be avoided.

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   AVALANCHE ADVISORY

   Good morning, this is Scott Schmidt with your Gallatin National Forest
   Avalanche Advisory issued on Saturday, December 28th, at 7:30 am.
   Todays advisory is sponsored by a Snowmobile Safety Grant from Montana
   Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. This advisory does not apply to operating
   ski areas.

   WEATHER

   Yesterdays weather was defined by high ridge top winds, which gusted
   up to 60 mph from the southwest. These strong winds preceded a storm
   system moving in from the coast, and while the brunt of the moisture
   associated with this system has yet to reach our area, the mountains
   around Cooke City managed to accumulate 8 inches of snow overnight,
   with the rest of the southern mountains picking up 3 5 inches.

   Today will bring decreasing winds and increasing snow showers. Winds
   will continue to blow from the southwest at 25 35 mph bring in moist
   air from Idaho that should produce an additional 6 10 inches of snow
   in the southern mountains by tomorrow morning. The rest of our
   advisory area will see scattered showers with accumulations if 1 4
   inches. Mountain temperatures will reach the upper 20s and mid 30s
   today, with overnight lows in the teens.

   SNOWPACK AND AVALANCHE DISCUSSION

   The Bridger Range

   It has been 5 days since the Bridgers picked up any significant
   snowfall, and yesterdays high winds didnt appear to move a lot of
   snow. The Bridger Bowl Patrol was able to  trigger two fairly
   decent slides in wind- loaded areas so youll want to continue to
   pay attention to recent wind  loading on the  lee sides of
   ridges and gullies. For today, for the Bridger Range, I consider the
    avalanche danger to be CONSIDERABLE on all recently
   wind- loaded slopes steeper then 35 degrees and MODERATE elsewhere.

   The northern Gallatin, and northern Madison Ranges:

   The snowpack throughout the Madison and Gallatin ranges is extremely
   weak as a result of sugary,  faceted snow, combined with an ice
   crust, near the ground. Several large natural avalanches on the south
   face of Lone Peak provide an example of the extent of this weakness.
   These avalanches occurred sometime Wednesday night and were not the
   result of a significant  loading event, which is unusual.
   Yesterdays winds increased the  load on the weak  faceted
   crystals and produced sensitive  slabs on Pioneer Ridge where the
   Yellowstone Club Ski Patrol was able to easily  trigger avalanches
   with  ski cutting. For today, for the northern Gallatin and
   northern Madison Ranges, I consider the  avalanche danger to be
   HIGH on all wind  loaded slopes and MODERATE elsewhere.

   The southern Gallatin, southern Madison, and Washburn Ranges, the
   mountains around Cooke City and the Lionhead area near West
   Yellowstone:

   Our southern mountains have the weakest snowpack and received the most
   snow, with 3 5 inches in the Lionhead area, and 8 inches in the
   mountains around Cooke City. This new snow, accompanied by high winds,
   ought to make for an exiting day of avalanching in these areas and I
   anticipate youll see quit a bit of natural activity. These natural
   avalanches are a good clue as to slope  aspects and slope elevation
   that are particularly sensitive. Youll want to avoid slopes similar to
   those that are avalanching, and be careful on all other steep slopes
   because, for today, for the southern Gallatin, southern Madison and
   Washburn Ranges, the mountains around Cooke City and the Lionhead area
   near West Yellowstone, I feel the  avalanche danger is HIGH on all
   slopes, with extra caution warranted on recently wind  loaded
   slopes.

   I will issue the next advisory tomorrow morning at 7:30 am. If you get
   out into the backcountry we would appreciate hearing about the
   snowpack conditions that you find. You can leave a message at 587-6984
   or email us at gnfac@avalanche.org.
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