Cooke City

Today we observed a couple day old wind slabs in steep SW facing terrain on Mt Zimmer. Photo: BPG

Wet loose occurred sometime today between 11-2 pm on S facing terrain nearby. Photo: BPG 

Today we observed a couple day old wind slabs in steep SW facing terrain on Mt Zimmer. Also, a wet loose occurred sometime today between 11-2 pm on S facing terrain nearby 

Skier in Republic Creek observed a natural (wind/storm slab) avalanche on an east aspect at ~9200ft. Photo: R. Minton

Very deep snow past Round Lake today. New snow ranged from 2-4’ deep. My elbows and shouldered were touching the trenches of my sled track as I rode through Star Lake toward the wilderness boundary. New snow was very low density. No natural avalanches observed and ski cuts were non reactive on test slopes.

Traveled up Republic Creek, ascending to ridge separating Wyoming and Republic Creeks. Trailbreaking was arduous, ski pen ~ 60-80cm depending on travel under canopy or in more open terrain. Did not formally evaluate HST, suffice to say it was significant. HS 260cm at 9600ft. Skies obscured all day with varying snowfall rates, S1-3. Moderate W/SW winds and PLENTY of transport. Observed a D2 natural (wind/storm slab? Hard to say from my vantage) on E aspect at ~9200ft. A member of our party intentionally triggered a 30-40cm storm slab on a small convexity in treed terrain in Wyoming Creek. No other natural or skier triggered activity observed, though visibility limited our view to the more complex terrain further up Republic. Ended the day with a Woody Ridge lap and encountered no cracking/slabbing of new snow in this zone. Snowfall was intensifying as we left the drainage around 1700.