On 5/4/24 Skiers triggered large wet loose slides on the Fin near Cooke City
Trip Planning for Cooke City Area
Primary Problem: None
Bottom Line: Spring weather can be highly variable and create a mix of avalanche problems to watch out for. Snow conditions and snow stability can change drastically from day to day or hour to hour. Anticipate rapid change and plan accordingly. Plenty of snowfall over the winter with more spring snow to come makes avalanches possible into summer.Past 5 Days
Fri Apr 19
None
None
Mon Apr 22
None
None
Fri Apr 26
None
None
Mon Apr 29
None
None
Thu May 2
None
None
Relevant Avalanche Activity
Cooke City
Republic Mountain
Skier triggered large Wet loose on the fin
Republic Mountain
L-ASu-R2-D2-I
Elevation: 10,000
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.0003, -109.9540
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
More Avalanche Details
L-ASu-R2-D2-I
Elevation: 10,000
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.0003, -109.9540
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
From obs.: “Our party (3) triggered a significant wet loose slide on the fin today. I, the first skier dropped in next to existing tracks from earlier in the morning. I made a couple of small turns in unskied snow to test it and decided that not much was moving. As I continued down the wet surface snow started to slide and accumulate. My partner called me on the radio to tell me a lot of snow was moving behind me and I cut left. I traversed hard to lower angle terrain until I felt I could safely descend the rest of the slope. My partners descended the bed surface until they could traverse out.
We made several key mistakes today. We knew it would be warm and that we should be up and down early. We left later than planned, moved slower than expected and failed to adjust our plan. We mistook lack of wet loose activity on similar aspects and elevations on features we could see as sign of stability. We failed to make a plan B or establish a turnaround time. We interpreted a party ahead of us that skied the slope as a go ahead. Another party approaching behind us added pressure to go. They also skied the slope after us in similar style to my partners.
In our favor, we communicated well, radios were key, stayed calm and we managed ourselves through the situation. I feel humbled and lucky to have gotten away with a free lesson. One that I didn't think I should have needed.”
More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
Sheep Mountain
Rider/skier triggered avalanche
Sheep Mountain
SS-ASu-R2-D1.5-I
Elevation: 9,500
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 45.0722, -109.9280
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
More Avalanche Details
SS-ASu-R2-D1.5-I
Elevation: 9,500
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 45.0722, -109.9280
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
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."
More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
COOKE CITY
Wet slabs near Cooke City/Silver Gate
COOKE CITY
WS-N-R2-D2.5-O
Elevation: 8,500
Aspect: N
Coordinates: 45.0202, -109.9380
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
More Avalanche Details
WS-N-R2-D2.5-O
Elevation: 8,500
Aspect: N
Coordinates: 45.0202, -109.9380
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
Wet snow activity on Wall Mountain near Silver Gate, Republic Mtn. and Henderson Bench near Cooke.
More Avalanche Details
Relevant Photos
Displaying 1 - 40
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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."
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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From IG on 04/26/2024 Photo: Beartooth Powder Guides
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A skier triggered this sluff in a steep chute east of Republic Mountain. Photo: B
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Skiers triggered a small sluff in steep terrain while skiing on the Fin near Republic Mountain. Photo: B.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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From obs: "skiing north of cooke city today observed this Small windslab on a South facing slope ~9800 ft." G. Roe
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Wet loose snow avalanche Astral Lake. Photo: GNFAC
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A wet loose snow avalanche on Crown Butte. Photo: GNFAC
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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E aspect, 9100' Photo: B. Fredlund
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N aspect, 9600' Photo: B. Fredlund
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E aspect, 8800' Photo: B. Fredlund
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SE aspect, 8800' Photo: B. Fredlund
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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
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A natural avalanche in Woody Creek, right by the waterfall. D2, crown was up to 5 feet deep. NE facing. Photo: J. Mundt
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E aspect, 9100'. Photo: B. Fredlund
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E aspect, 8800'. Photo: B. Fredlund
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SE aspect, 9000'. Photo: B. Fredlund
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NE aspect, 9300' Photo: B. Fredlund
Videos- Cooke City Area
WebCams
Soda Butte Lodge, looking West
Soda Butte Lodge, looking East
Weather Stations- Cooke City Area
Weather Forecast Cooke City Area
Extended Forecast for2 Miles NNE Cooke City MT
Overnight
Low: 23 °F
Chance Snow
ShowersMonday
High: 35 °F
Snow Likely
and Patchy
Blowing SnowMonday Night
Low: 20 °F
Chance Snow
and Patchy
Blowing SnowTuesday
High: 30 °F
Chance Snow
and Patchy
Blowing SnowTuesday Night
Low: 22 °F
Snow Likely
and Areas
Blowing SnowWednesday
High: 34 °F
Snow and
Patchy
Blowing SnowWednesday Night
Low: 26 °F
Snow and
Patchy
Blowing SnowThursday
High: 40 °F
Snow Likely
Thursday Night
Low: 24 °F
Slight Chance
Snow then
Partly Cloudy
The Last Word
We began daily forecasts on December 7. 130 daily forecasts and 464 reported avalanches later, we wrapped up our daily forecasting season on April 14th. Read our SEASON SUMMARY to look back at the 2023-24 avalanche forecasting season.
Thank you to everyone that sent in observations, read the advisories, took an avalanche class, or donated money, time or gear. Our success is directly related to support from the community and the Forest Service. Have a safe spring and summer!