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
Trip Planning for Cooke City Area
Past 5 Days
Considerable
Considerable
Considerable
Considerable
Moderate
Relevant Avalanche Activity
SS-NL-R2-D2-O
Elevation: 9,500
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 44.9997, -109.9160
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
From Obs: “We were skinning in the valley to the East of Woody Ridge near the North end and observed a wet slide occur naturally due to a point release, moving about 500 ft downslope. While that was occurring it remotely triggered a dry slab avalanche approx. 50-100 ft adjacent on the same slope and elevation. The crown appeared to be 3 ft deep, possibly thicker, but we were viewing from afar so hard to tell. 9500 ft elevation, East aspect. 12:02 PM March 17, 2024. Air temp approx. 30F clear skies all day.”
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WL-N-R1-D1.5
Aspect: SW
Coordinates: 45.0202, -109.9380
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
There were two loose, wet snow avalanches that we saw that had a bit of volume to them today. One on the south side of Crown Butte and the other on the southwest side of Scotch Bonnet
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HS-R4-D2-O
Elevation: 8,700
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 45.0320, -109.9350
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
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. 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.
More Avalanche Details
Relevant Photos
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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
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E aspect, 8900'. Photo: B. Fredlund
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On 3/9/24 there was a big avalanche on the northeast side of Sheep that was previously not reported. It was there this morning so maybe happened yesterday. 6-8'+ deep, 500' wide R4-D3-O. Photo: GNFAC
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On 3/9/24 there was a big avalanche on the northeast side of Sheep that was previously not reported. It was there this morning so maybe happened yesterday. 6-8'+ deep, 500' wide R4-D3-O. Photo: GNFAC
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This morning (3/9/24) we saw previous avalanches on Henderson Mtn. in better light and got a photo of one on the lower Henderson Bench. Showing wide propagation through thick trees. Photo: GNFAC
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On 03/08/2024 we observed widespread avalanches along Henderson Bench as well, below the steep break over in the trees, 3'+ deep breaking across multiple terrain features through thick trees, most of the bench slid, and appeared to have happened last weekend. Photo: GNFAC
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On my drive to Cooke City I saw old slab avalanches in YNP near Mammoth and on Abiathar and Ampitheater among other places. These appeared to have happened earlier in the week. I also saw a more fresh looking persistent slab avalanche on Barronette, 2-3' deep and as wide as its terrain feature, 100-200' Photo: GNFAC
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We saw one small but deep slab on the north side of Scotch Bonnet on 03/08/2024 that likely happened today or late yesterday. 6' deep x 30' wide, R1-D1.5. Photo: GNFAC
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A recent avalanche on the south side of Scotch Bonnet happened today, 03/08, or yesterday. 4-6' deep and 300' wide. Photo: GNFAC
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The crown of a recent avalanche on the south side of Scotch Bonnet that happened today, 03/08, or yesterday. 4-6' deep and 300' wide. Photo: GNFAC
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The crown of a recent avalanche on the south side of Scotch Bonnet that happened today, 03/08, or yesterday. 4-6' deep and 300' wide. Photo: GNFAC
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The debris from a recent avalanche on the south side of Scotch Bonnet that happened today, 03/08, or yesterday. 4-6' deep and 300' wide. Photo: GNFAC
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We observed another fresh slide in the Rastas (one that didn't slide last weekend) that looked fresh yesterday or today, 4' deep hard slab, R3-D2-O. Photo: GNFAC
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Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC
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Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC
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Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC
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Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC
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Additional photo of an avalanche that was triggered by a snowmobiler on 03/07/2024. Observed on 03/08/2024. Photo: GNFAC
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Riders saw a recent avalanche on the west side of Scotch Bonnet in the Rasta Chute. It likely happened sometime today (03/08) or yesterday. Photo: J. Mundt
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Skiers on 03/07/2024 observed several avalanches in the north-facing bowl below Republic Mountain. These avalanches likely happened the day before on 03/06/2024. Photo: J. Keogh
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Skiers on 03/07/2024 observed several avalanches in the north-facing bowl below Republic Mountain. These avalanches likely happened the day before on 03/06/2024. Photo: J. Keogh
Videos- Cooke City Area
Weather Stations- Cooke City Area
Weather Forecast Cooke City Area
Extended Forecast for2 Miles NNE Cooke City MT
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Today
Sunny
High: 45 °F
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Tonight
Partly Cloudy
Low: 25 °F
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Wednesday
Mostly Sunny
then Slight
Chance SnowHigh: 42 °F
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Wednesday
NightChance Snow
Low: 28 °F
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Thursday
Snow
High: 35 °F
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Thursday
NightSnow then
Chance SnowLow: 21 °F
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Friday
Snow Likely
High: 34 °F
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Friday
NightSnow Likely
Low: 24 °F
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Saturday
Snow Likely
then SnowHigh: 35 °F
The Last Word
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the Avalanche Research Program at Simon Fraser University and the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research are conducting research to examine how backcountry recreationists, including skiers, mountain snowmobilers, snowshoers and ice climbers, interpret avalanche forecast information. They aim to better understand how useful different kinds of avalanche forecast information are for trip planning. To participate, take the Colorado Avalanche Information Center survey.