Trip Planning for Cooke City Area

On 5/4/24 Skiers triggered large wet loose slides on the Fin near Cooke City

From obs 5/2/24: "Wind load on old crust, probably from Wednesday."

From email 5/1/24: "Hi crew. I triggered a soft slab avalanche on the North side of Sheep Mountain today. D1.5 200’ wide ran 200’.  Crown was 6-12’’ deep. I was able to ride out of it and anchor in a safe spot. 

It broke on our 7th lap and we had seen no signs of instability prior to the avalanche but wind loading was occurring and obvious. The avalanche broke and on a dirty crust that formed during a rain event last week."

Photos of what appears like a wet slab possibly from Friday (4/26) when the precip. started after the first night or two of poor freeze (Henderson Bench). Photo GNFAC

Photos of what appear like wet slabs possibly from Friday (4/26) when the precip. started after the first night or two of poor freeze (North side of Republic near Cooke City). Photo GNFAC

On 4/26/24 large natural wet slabs were seen running on Wall Mountain near Silver Gate. An observer from Beartooth Powder Guides sent us a video of them happening at 3pm while it was 43 degrees F. I also noted a similar large crown on the north side of Republic Mtn. that probably also happened this afternoon. Photo: GNFAC

On 4/26/24 large natural wet slabs were seen running on Wall Mountain near Silver Gate. An observer from Beartooth Powder Guides sent us a video of them happening at 3pm while it was 43 degrees F. I also noted a similar large crown on the north side of Republic Mtn. that probably also happened this afternoon. Photo: GNFAC

On 4/26/24 large natural wet slabs were seen running on Wall Mountain near Silver Gate. An observer from Beartooth Powder Guides sent us a video of them happening at 3pm while it was 43 degrees F. I also noted a similar large crown on the north side of Republic Mtn. that probably also happened this afternoon.

On 4/26/24 large natural wet slabs were seen running on Wall Mountain near Silver Gate. An observer from Beartooth Powder Guides sent us a video of them happening at 3pm while it was 43 degrees F. I also noted a similar large crown on the north side of Republic Mtn. that probably also happened this afternoon. Photo: GNFAC

From IG on 04/26/2024 Photo: Beartooth Powder Guides

A skier triggered this sluff in a steep chute east of Republic Mountain. Photo: B

Skiers triggered a small sluff in steep terrain while skiing on the Fin near Republic Mountain. Photo: B. 

Riders saw this wet slab avalanche on the SE shoulder of Mount Abundance. The avalanche likely happened a few days ago during prolonged above-freezing temperatures. Photo: R.

Riders saw this wet slab avalanche on the SE shoulder of Mount Abundance. The avalanche likely happened a few days ago during prolonged above-freezing temperatures. Photo: R.

From obs: "Natural cornice failure and small slab on Iceberg Peak’s NE face. We skied by the day prior and judging by what the wind did to our tracks overnight, this looked like it happened in the morning." Photo A. Joy

A snowboarder saw this natural avalanche on the Fin from Cooke City. He estimated it happened between 10:30-1:30 and broke 2' deep. Photo: N. Mattes

We triggered this small avalanche on a steep windloaded rollover on an otherwise mellow slope. This avalanche was 15-20' wide, 8" deep, and ran for about 30-40 vertical feet. The skier easily skied away from the slide and was not caught. Photo: GNFAC

From obs: "skiing north of cooke city today observed this Small windslab on a South facing slope ~9800 ft." G. Roe
 

Skiers triggered this small windslab while skinning near a steeprollover at the top of an East facing slope above Zimmer Creek. Crown was ~20 ft wide and ran a similar distance. 2"-10" at the deepest. Photo: G. Roe

Skiers south of Cooke City saw a recent likely cornice-triggered avalanche on a northeast face. During their tour, they saw a small part of the same cornice fall off and trigger another small avalanche. Photo: B. Daley

A snowboarder intentionally triggered a wind-slab avalanche on Town Hill in Cooke City that broke 6-10” deep and approximately 30’ wide. It ran about 40 vertical feet. Photo: R. Youngbar

On the east side of Woody Ridge, skiers watched a wet, loose snow avalanche trigger a dry slab avalanche on March 17. photo: N Iltis

On the east side of Woody Ridge, skiers watched a wet, loose snow avalanche trigger a dry slab avalanche on March 17. photo: N Iltis

We saw no new deep slab avalanches in Cooke City since Alex was there last week. Unfortunately, if you triggered one, it would be no less deadly. This was a large deep slab avalanche on Sheep Mountain. Photo: GNFAC

Wet loose snow avalanche Astral Lake. Photo: GNFAC

A wet loose snow avalanche on Crown Butte. Photo: GNFAC

On 3/10/24 Between Miller and Wolverine there was a recent large avalanche that I would guess was triggered yesterday. 3-6' deep, 250-300' wide. Photo: GNFAC

On 3/10/24 Low on Daisy Road along the steep creek walls we saw three recent 2' deep avalanches. each 70-100' wide. HS-R4-D2-O. This one looked within the last day or two and the other two were maybe 3-4 days old. Triggers unknown, there were various ages of sled/snowbike tracks nearby. Photo: GNFAC

On 3/10/24 Low on Daisy Road along the steep creek walls we saw three recent 2'+ deep avalanches. each 70-100' wide. HS-R4-D2-O. This one maybe 3-4 days old. Triggers unknown, there were various ages of sled/snowbike tracks nearby. Photo: GNFAC

A natural avalanche was witnessed on the north side of Republic Mtn. on 3/9 at 4:54pm. It appeared to break around 3 feet deep. Photo: screenshot from IG, M. Simone

A natural avalanche was witnessed on the north side of Republic Mtn. on 3/9 at 4:54pm. It appeared to break around 3 feet deep. Photo: screenshot from IG, M. Simone

E aspect, 9100' Photo: B. Fredlund 

N aspect, 9600' Photo: B. Fredlund

E aspect, 8800' Photo: B. Fredlund 

SE aspect, 8800' Photo: B. Fredlund 

Skiers saw a natural avalanche that likely happened late last week in Pilot Creek. The avalanche ran 1000 feet on a SE facing slope. Photo: J. Mundt

A natural avalanche in Woody Creek, right by the waterfall. D2, crown was up to 5 feet deep. NE facing. Photo: J. Mundt

E aspect, 9100'. Photo: B. Fredlund

E aspect, 8800'.  Photo: B. Fredlund

SE aspect, 9000'. Photo: B. Fredlund