24-25

New Snow and Wind in Cooke City

Date
Activity
Skiing

Skied south of Cooke over the weekend. Winds were L-M gusting to X out of the W, SW. 19" HN at 8500' from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. Small, localized cracking of wind slabs, but they weren't as reactive as I would have expected. No avalanches seen, although visibility was limited. There are some density changes within the storm snow, including a layer of graupel. Storm snow was not reactive in hand pits. On solar aspects, there is a MF crust under the recent storm snow and facets under the crust. The crust varies in thickness depending on aspect and elevation, 1-3cm.

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
COOKE CITY
Observer Name
Beartooth Powder Guides

Small wind slab avalanche north of Cooke City

COOKE CITY
Cooke City
Code
SS-N-R1-D1
Elevation
9200
Aspect
NW
Latitude
45.02020
Longitude
-109.93800
Notes

Skied north of Cooke City. Lots of cracking and small slabs on pillows. Observed one small wind slab on NW facing slope 9200 ft.

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Cracking and Small Wind Slabs North of Cooke City

Date
Activity
Skiing

Skied north of Cooke City. Lots of cracking and small slabs on pillows. Observed one small wind slab on NW facing slope 9200 ft.

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
COOKE CITY
Observer Name
Beartooth Powder Guides

Wind Slab Avalanche near Buck Weather Station

Buck Ridge
Northern Madison
Code
SS-AMc-R1-D1
Latitude
45.16280
Longitude
-111.35100
Notes

Human triggered release of cornice overhang near the weather station on Buck Ridge. Recent activity next to the small release. Crown 1-2’ deep, 40’ run, 75’ across running over the tracks riding underneath in the recent wind transported slab.

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Snowmobile
Trigger Modifier
c-A controlled or intentional release by the indicated trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Slab Thickness
18.0 inches
Vertical Fall
40ft
Slab Width
75.00ft
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Small Loose Snow Avalanches in South Cottonwood Basin

Mt Blackmore
Northern Gallatin
Code
SS-NC-R1-D1
Latitude
45.42980
Longitude
-111.00000
Notes

Skied into South Cottonwood basin from Blackmore today. Skiing was sub-par with lots of wind scouring and intense active snow transport. Along with the slides observed yesterday, two recent R1-D1 slides were observed in South Cottonwood Basin: below the Dogleg and on N Twin's west wall via cornice break. No surface hoar, slides from today, or cracking/collapsing were observed. 

Number of slides
2
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Cornice fall
R size
1
D size
1
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year

Human triggered release of cornice overhang near the weather station on Buck Ridge. Recent activity next to the small release. Crown 1-2’ deep, 40’ run, 75’ across running over the tracks riding underneath in the recent wind transported slab.

Northern Madison, 2025-02-02