View looking south towards the Pyramid. Photo: J. Negri
Trip Planning for Cooke City Area
Primary Problem: Wind Slab
Bottom Line: Wind slab avalanches are the primary concern through the weekend. They could break under the snow that fell yesterday or in the new snow that is going to fall and be blown around tomorrow and Sunday. Either way, they could easily have enough power to knock you off your feet and into the plethora of rocks and stumps that are still exposed with a thin, early season snowpack.Past 5 Days
Wed Nov 6
None
None
Wed Nov 13
None
None
Fri Nov 15
None
None
Tue Nov 19
None
None
Fri Nov 22
None
None
Relevant Avalanche Activity
Cooke City
Henderson Mountain
Localized cracking and collapsing on Mt. Henderson
Henderson Mountain
Elevation: 9,700
Aspect: SW
Coordinates: 45.0524, -109.9450
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
More Avalanche Details
Elevation: 9,700
Aspect: SW
Coordinates: 45.0524, -109.9450
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
Localized collapsing and cracking yesterday on the upper slopes of Mt. Henderson, SW aspects. HS ranged from about 30-75cms.
Snowpit attached from a SW aspect about 9700', HS 50cms, ECTN9 @ 22cms (1-2mm facets above MF crust).
More Avalanche Details
Relevant Photos
Displaying 1 - 10
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Photo: J. Negri
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Evidence of cross loading on Sheep Mountain. Photo: J. Negri
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Snowpit at Bridger Bowl on 11/5. Photo: B. VandenBos
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From e-mail: "Photo attached from near top of hyalite peak, 11/2. Cracking in recent hard wind slab, I had to really jump hard to make this. Walked on many other hard slabs that were well bonded. Highly variable snowpack. I think you'd be most likely to get into trouble by popping out a small hard slab pocket like this and getting magic carpeted into some thinly covered terrain." Photo: B. VandenBos
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Screenshots of webcams throughout the forecast area show new snow and snow cover on November 1.
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From obs: "1-3 mm faceting in front of the Montage. Clear skys and mid 20 temps"
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On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Yellowstone Club Webcam
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On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Bridger Bowl Webcams
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The 26th annual fundraiser for the Friends of the GNFAC is October 25 at the Emerson Cultural Center. More info and tickets at: https://events.eventgroove.com/event/Powder-Blast-2024-101627
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: 21 °F
Snow
Sunday
High: 23 °F
Snow
Sunday Night
Low: 8 °F
Slight Chance
Snow Showers
then Mostly
CloudyMonday
High: 23 °F
Mostly Sunny
Monday Night
Low: 12 °F
Slight Chance
SnowTuesday
High: 25 °F
Snow Likely
Tuesday Night
Low: 12 °F
Snow Likely
then Chance
SnowWednesday
High: 21 °F
Chance Snow
Wednesday Night
Low: 8 °F
Chance Snow
The Last Word
Read accident reports from previous early-season accidents before you venture to the snowy hills. This accident report from October 2012 in the northern Bridger Range, and this report from the tragic fatality six years ago in early October are reminders of the potential consequences of even a small avalanche.