Avalanche warnings issued for Montana

By The Montana Standard News Services - 01/07/2009

HELENA (AP) — Avalanche warnings have been issued for mountains all across western Montana because rain and heavy wet snow is falling on a weak snowpack.

The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center said the risk of avalanche is high on wind-loaded slopes and any slope steeper than 35 degrees in the Bridger and northern Gallatin Ranges in southwestern Montana. The avalanche risk is also high on wind-loaded slopes in the southern Gallatin and entire Madison Range, including the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone and the mountains around Cooke City.

``The bottom line is that the mountains have anywhere from 8-17 inches of new snow. And it's not staying put,'' Doug Chabot, with the Gallatin center, wrote Wednesday. ``Like a bully in a school yard, these winds are having their way with the fresh powder. I'm anticipating 1-3 foot drifts of snow will naturally avalanche today.'' The U.S. Forest Service Glacier County Avalanche Center says the avalanche danger is high in all the mountain ranges in northwestern Montana.

``Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist,'' wrote Stan Bones with the Glacier center. ``Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.'' The West Central Montana Avalanche Center has issued an avalanche warning for all mountainous areas of west central Montana, including the Bitterroot Mountains from Lost Trail to Lookout Pass, the Rattlesnake Mountains and the Southern Swan and Mission Mountains near Seeley Lake.

``Recently wind loaded or unanchored open slopes are dangerous,'' said Steve Karkanen with the West Central center. ``Natural avalanches are possible, human triggered avalanches probable.'' His report also noted that foothills areas of western Montana are not included in the avalanche advisory, but some areas have enough snow and steep enough terrain where avalanches are also a risk.