Cooke City

Skier triggered wind slabs and wet loose

Date
Activity
Skiing
Snowmobiling

Today A Skier triggered a 6”x20’ wide wind slab on a N aspect at 9,800’.

Skiers triggered D1-D1.5 wet loose on SE aspect at 10,000’.

There were also natural small wet loose slides today and yesterday. Long running, but narrow, in steep terrain. Typically initiated near rock outcrops.

Today was hotter than yesterday and the top of the snowpack got pretty wet before clouds built in the afternoon. Snow stayed dry on due north up high. 

 

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
COOKE CITY
Observer Name
Alex Marienthal

Wet Loose Avalanches Cooke City

Hayden Creek
Cooke City
Code
WL-NC-R1-D1-S
Elevation
10000
Aspect
E
Latitude
44.99520
Longitude
-109.90800
Notes

While touring south of town today, we observed two D1 wet loose avalanches on an east aspect at 10000’. Both occurred at 11am and were triggered by a small cornice fall due to rapid warming.

Number of slides
2
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Wet loose-snow avalanche
Trigger
Cornice fall
R size
1
D size
1
Bed Surface
S - Avalanche released within new snow
Problem Type
Loose Wet
Snow Observation Source
Wet Loose Avalanches Cooke City
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
24-25

Wet Loose Avalanches Cooke City

Date
Activity
Skiing

While touring south of town today, we observed two D1 wet loose avalanches on an east aspect at 10000’. Both occurred at 11am and were triggered by a small cornice fall due to rapid warming.

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Hayden Creek
Observer Name
Nina Hance

test scores

Date
Activity
Skiing
Region
Cooke City
Observer Name
Test observation

Natural wind slabs and loose snow near Cooke

Henderson Mountain
Cooke City
Code
Latitude
45.05240
Longitude
-109.94500
Notes

We saw a couple 3-6" deep natural wind slab avalanches and a few dry loose slides that looked to have happened within the last 24 hours. On southerly slopes below 9,000' there were some wet loose slides from yesterday afternoon.

Number of slides
4
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Images
Natural wind slabs/dry loose on Henderson
Snow Observation Source
Reactive wind slabs, future wet snow hazards
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
24-25

Reactive wind slabs near Cooke City

Henderson Mountain
Cooke City
Code
HS-AS-R1-D1-S
Elevation
9800
Aspect
NE
Latitude
45.05240
Longitude
-109.94500
Notes

Wind slabs were still reactive today. We triggered 3 small, 3-8" deep x 5-15' wide, hard wind (1F+) slabs on convex test slopes well below the main ridgelines. 9,800', NE aspects. Also triggered one softer (4F) wind slab just below the high ridgeline, 10,200', NE aspect. 10-15' wide x 6-8" deep.

Number of slides
4
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Hard slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
R size
1
D size
1
Bed Surface
S - Avalanche released within new snow
Problem Type
Wind Slab
Slab Thickness
8.0 inches
Vertical Fall
50ft
Slab Width
15.00ft
Images
Skier triggered hard wind slab near Cooke
Skier triggered soft wind slab avalanche near Cooke
Snow Observation Source
Reactive wind slabs, future wet snow hazards
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
24-25

Apr 5 Wind slabs were still reactive. We triggered 3 small, 3-8" deep x 5-15' wide, hard wind (1F+) slabs on convex test slopes well below the main ridgelines. 9,800', NE aspects. Photo: GNFAC

Avalanche Details: Reactive wind slabs near Cooke City
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Apr 6, 2025GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Apr 7, 2025
Cooke City, 2025-04-06
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