[cdestroyer]

from the gallatin county rescuers info: https://www.montanarightnow.com/bozeman/heading-out-to-montana-s-backcountry-what-you-need-to-know/article_c06c6674-6c21-11eb-9cad-b37babbc0dec.html

[gb]

It is the same across most of the West and for the same reason. An extended period of little or no snow and shallow snowpacks and then more recently significant snow. When these layers are buried 3' or less and when the overlying layer lacks significant strength, the reasonable probability/possibility of triggering large avalanches exists. https://avalanche.org