Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks issued a winter safety advisory Tuesday reminding residents that backcountry conditions remain “extremely hazardous” across the state’s mountain ranges, even as valley temperatures hovered in the low 40s and several downtown Bozeman residents were spotted without jackets.

“People see 42 degrees in town and assume the mountains got the memo,” said game warden Russell Haines, who has responded to four backcountry incidents since New Year’s. “The mountains did not get the memo. The mountains don’t check their email.”

The advisory noted that avalanche danger in the Bridger Range is currently rated “considerable,” wind chills above 9,000 feet are regularly dropping below minus-20, and snowpack instability has been observed across multiple aspects. Meanwhile, a man on East Main was seen eating ice cream on a bench at 2:15 p.m.

“It was nice out,” said the man, who identified himself only as Garrett. “Felt like spring.”

Haines said the department sees a spike in unprepared recreationists every time the valley gets a warm day. “They drive up to the trailhead in running shoes, realize the parking lot is a sheet of ice, and then call us,” he said. “We always come. We just wish they’d bring a coat.”

The advisory will remain in effect through at least mid-February, which Haines described as “optimistic, but we have to put an end date on things or people stop reading.”

Valley temperatures are expected to drop back into the 20s by Thursday. No comment from the man with the ice cream.