My condolences to all the victims families. Signs of weak snow pack in southwest mt. From the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Advisory (www.mtavalanche.com):

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18

Good Morning. This is Mark Staples with the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Advisory issued on Sunday, January 18 at 7:30 a.m. Island Park Adventures and Yamaha, in cooperation with the Friends of the Avalanche Center, sponsor today’s advisory. This advisory does not apply to operating ski areas.

THREE AVALANCHE FATALITIES

Yesterday there were three avalanche fatalities in southwest Montana, two outside the advisory area and one within. One avalanche fatality occurred in the mountains north of Cooke City near Daisy Pass. This was a massive avalanche, and we have few details. Doug and I will be going to Cooke City today for an investigation and will have more details in tomorrow’s advisory.

Another avalanche occurred near Mt Jefferson in the Centennial Range. The victim was wearing a beacon, but was buried under 8 ft of snow and it took 30 minutes to extricate him. More details can be found at: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...che_death.html

A third avalanche fatality occurred in the Gravelly Range near Black Butte. This avalanche was 200 ft wide and ran 75 vertical feet. It occurred on an east facing slope at 9000ft. A group of 14 riders met in a meadow and noticed someone from the group was missing. They searched for him and found his sled in avalanche debris at the base of a small slope. Everyone was carrying rescue gear and began a beacon search. They immediately detected a signal from the victim’s beacon and found him under 2 feet of snow. Once they got him out of the debris they performed CPR. The victim was buried for approximately 15 minutes. This was an experienced group of riders well equipped with rescue gear and aware of current avalanche conditions with no intentions of climbing steep slopes. Photos of this avalanche are posted at:

http://www.mtavalanche.com/photos/photos.php

A video clip can be seen at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFMi1gtaH-o

We at the Avalanche Center would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of these victims.