Trip Planning for Cooke City Area

A little wind load cornice break, but it broke while I was coming down that track to the right. Photo: S Strenge

This is the N side of scotch bonnet, looks like a big break, didn’t get any closer than this however. Photo: S Strenge

 

N face of crown butte, looks like it slid before the dirt event (we think the end of the storm yesterday/ or last night must have been dirty snow?). Photo: S Strenge

Avalanche north aspect of Scotch Bonnet. Photo: BPG

The first was on E Henderson above the bench in nearly the same spot as the 12/30 avalanche. It ran sometime between 11:30 and 12:30 today. Photo: BPG

Avalanche north aspect of Crown Butte. Photo: BPG

Some recent avalanche activity noted on east Mt. Henderson. Photo: B Fredlund

Some recent avalanche activity noted on Miller Ridge. Photo: B Fredlund

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

Skied north of Cooke City. Lots of cracking and small slabs on pillows. Photo: BPG

On Jan 30 we spotted several loose wet avalanches that occurred yesterday in steep, rocky terrain up Sheep Creek. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan 30 we noted an old, deep persistent slab avalanche on a NW' aspect near the south end of the Republic Creek drainage. This likely broke around a week ago. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan 27 we saw  a cornice fall on a very big steep slope up Republic Creek which did not trigger anything large or deeper, but entrained some snow and ran over a thousand feet vertical. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan 27 We saw one old, but very large persistent slab avalanche further up Republic Creek (pictured). It was on similar aspect and elevation as a somewhat more recent persistent slab in nearby Hayden Creek, North-northeast, 10,000'. It appeared to be 6'+ deep and 500'+ wide. The bed surface and crown had been partially drifted in, so it seemed it was probably at least a week old...? Photo: GNFAC

On January 26 we saw a handful (4-6?) of old wind slab avalanches of various ages. The most recent and largest appearing, but still not very fresh, was on the north side of Scotch Bonnet (attached photo). Most were D1-D1.5, the slide pictured was D1.5-2. Photo: GNFAC

While touring today, we saw a deep slab avalanche at the southern end of the Hayden Creek drainage. NE aspect. It seemed to be recent, likely in the last day or so. Photo: N Mattes

Wind slab avalanche on E Henderson North of the large slide path close to Fisher Pk. R1 D2,1-2' deep, 200' wide. It broke aprx 200' below the summit mid slope. It looked like it broke on the 19th. Photo: BPG

On 1/12 observed a D .5 soft slab near Long Lake above the snowmobile trail. Also saw some small dry loose activity on E facing terrain in Zimmer Creek. Photo: BPG

Woody Ridge north of the "KNBs." Northwest facing slope, crown elevation approx 9600'. Ran 1000 to 1200'. Photo: N Gaddy

Woody Ridge north of the "KNBs." Northwest facing slope, crown elevation approx 9600'. Ran 1000 to 1200'. Unsure of when it went, we did not notice it this morning only this afternoon on the hike out. Photo: N Gaddy

Observed a large avalanche on a west facing slope approx 10000ft, with a higher crown at 10200'. Crown depth 4-6'. HS-Ns-D2-R2-O . Ran 1000ft and into terrain I had previously considered safe. Photo: N Gaddy

Observed a large avalanche on a west facing slope approx 10000ft, with a higher crown at 10200'. Crown depth 4-6'. HS-Ns-D2-R2-O . Ran 1000ft and into terrain I had previously considered safe. Photo: N Gaddy

Observed a large avalanche on a west facing slope approx 10000ft, with a higher crown at 10200'. Crown depth 4-6'. HS-Ns-D2-R2-O . Ran 1000ft and into terrain I had previously considered safe. Photo: N Gaddy

Observed a large avalanche on a west facing slope approx 10000ft, with a higher crown at 10200'. Crown depth 4-6'. HS-Ns-D2-R2-O . Ran 1000ft and into terrain I had previously considered safe. Photo: N Gaddy

Jan 10, We dug a pit on Henderson Bench on a northeast facing slope, and one on Scotch Bonnet on a south facing slope (pictured). Both showed a 4' thick strong slab on weaker, faceted snow at the base. The weak layers are not terribly weak and didn't produce concerning test scores, so they may get better when they get a break from snowfall and wind-loading, but for now recent avalanches show these layers are weak enough and will produce more big avalanches as snowfall and wind continue. Photo: GNFAC

We looked at two 4-6' deep persistent slab avalanches that were reported yesterday on the east side of Henderson Mtn., which likely happened yesterday (Jan 9). Wind-loading was the likely trigger. There were not tracks near the larger one above the bench, where riders could easily get to, but they could have been filled in. The other slide was below the highest point below a cornice and likely natural. Both looked like they broke on facets at the bottom of the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

We looked at two 4-6' deep persistent slab avalanches that were reported yesterday on the east side of Henderson Mtn., which likely happened yesterday (Jan. 9). Wind-loading was the likely trigger. There were not tracks near the larger one above the bench, where riders could easily get to, but they could have been filled in. The other slide was below the highest point below a cornice and likely natural. Both looked like they broke on facets at the bottom of the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan 9 We saw many avalanches of various types and ages. Some occurred today and within the last 24 hours and some were up to a week old. Avalanche types ranged from 3-6' deep and broke on weak layers near the bottom of the snowpack to shallow soft, fresh wind slabs. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan 9 We saw many avalanches of various types and ages. Some occurred today and within the last 24 hours and some were up to a week old. Avalanche types ranged from 3-6' deep and broke on weak layers near the bottom of the snowpack to shallow soft, fresh wind slabs. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan. 9 we rode away from our snowpit on Mt. Abundance we saw a fresh 3'deep x 10' wide slide that we might have remote triggered from the flat ridge above.

Jan. 9, About 45 minutes after we left a snowpit on Mt. Abundance, from a couple miles away, we saw a 4-6' deep avalanche that happened since we had been there, about 1000' up the ridge from our snowpit m. This slide was either natural or remote triggered by riders about 1000' away who were there after we were. Photo: GNFAC

Jan. 9, About 45 minutes after we left a snowpit on Mt. Abundance, from a couple miles away, we saw a 4-6' deep avalanche that happened since we had been there, about 1000' up the ridge from our snowpit m. This slide was either natural or remote triggered by riders about 1000' away who were there after we were. Photo: GNFAC

On Jan. 9 we saw this large avalanche on the north side of Fisher Mtn. that happened at some time in the last week (could have been 48 hours to a week old). Photo: GNFAC

On Jan 9, we saw one 3-4' deep slide that looked like it broke within recent new and wind-drifted snow on the north end of Henderson. Photo: GNFAC

There were a couple of avalanches on E Henderson, one that I think happened today, a few on E Sheep Mountain, some shallower avalanches, and plenty of loose dry snow moving around in the steeps. Photo: N Mattes 

There were a couple of avalanches on E Henderson, one that I think happened today, a few on E Sheep Mountain, some shallower avalanches, and plenty of loose dry snow moving around in the steeps. Photo: N Mattes 

There were a couple of avalanches on E Henderson, one that I think happened today, a few on E Sheep Mountain, some shallower avalanches, and plenty of loose dry snow moving around in the steeps. Photo: N Mattes 

There were a couple of avalanches on E Henderson, one that I think happened today, a few on E Sheep Mountain, some shallower avalanches, and plenty of loose dry snow moving around in the steeps. Photo: N Mattes 

There were a couple of avalanches on E Henderson, one that I think happened today, a few on E Sheep Mountain, some shallower avalanches, and plenty of loose dry snow moving around in the steeps. Photo: N Mattes