Trip Planning for Cooke City Area

as of 5:00 am
Today1″ | 5-15 NW
Dec 23 2″ | 10-37 NW
Dec 22 2″ | 15-42 SW
10020′     12/24 at 12:00
19.6℉
S - 7mph
Gusts 15 mph
9100′     12/24 at 11:00
28℉
31″ Depth
Primary Problem: Persistent Slab
Bottom Line: Heightened avalanche conditions exist. Human-triggered persistent slab and wind slab avalanches are possible. Obvious signs of instability, such as avalanches, collapsing, and shooting cracks, won’t be forthcoming today, but these, and unstable test results and poor snowpack structure, direct us toward slopes less than 30 degrees steep. Along with safe travel practices, good partners and rescue gear, selecting lower-angle avalanche terrain sheltered from the wind with fewer terrain traps reduces the likelihood and consequences of a slide.

Past 5 Days

Fri Dec 20

Considerable
Sat Dec 21

Considerable
Sun Dec 22

Moderate
Mon Dec 23

Considerable
Today

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Cooke City
Goose Lake
E Face Mount Fox avalanche
Incident details include images
Goose Lake
SS-NC-R2-D2-O
Elevation: 11,000
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.1153, -109.9140
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From email: "Maiden Voyage to Goose Lake for the season today. Lots of wind drifted snow everywhere and challenging riding conditions. Performed Stability test on shoulder of Mount Fox NE facing slope at 10,300'. HS 180cm. ECTP2 40cm down on Buried Surface Hoar. ECTP 23 90cm down on MFcr with 1-2mm Facets. Saw several recent wind slab avalanches in steeper windloaded terrrain around Goose Lake, but limited activity was seen on Henderson. Lots of co/cr while touring on Mount Fox. D2 avalanche on east facing Mount Fox that appears to be on the SH layer, triggered by a cornice drop." 


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
COOKE CITY
Natural Avalanche Activity, Cooke City
Incident details include images
COOKE CITY
SS-N-R3-D2.5-U
Elevation: 10,000
Coordinates: 45.0202, -109.9380
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Ob1: Photos 1-4, GNFAC

We rode out to Lulu Pass to look at the few avalanches that were reported yesterday on Henderson and Fisher Mtn. Today we did not see any avalanches that weren't previously reported, other than one small, but thick wind slab on south facing slope of Scotch Bonnet (photo). At least the avalanche on Fisher and one on Henderson broke near the ground (pics attached). Some slides were heavily refilled by drifted snow, so it was hard to tell how deep they broke.

Yesterday I saw a wide slab avalanche up on west Woody Ridge from town (photo attached). It happened late on Wednesday or overnight during or after the strong winds and snowfall.

 

Ob 2: B Fredlund, Photos 5-13

Quite a few natural avalanches observed north of Cooke City today.   Photos attached of:

5:  NE facing, 10,000, Miller Ridge

6:  E facing, 9900', Bull of the Woods Pass

7:  NE facing, 9700', Miller Ridge

8:  E facing, 10,200' Scotch Bonnet Mtn.

9:  E facing, 10,000 Mt. Henderson

10-12: NE- N facing, 10,000' Mt. Henderson

13:  NE facing, 10,000' Sheep Creek.

 


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
Woody Ridge
Wind Slabs near Cooke City
Incident details include images
Woody Ridge
Aspect: W
Coordinates: 44.9739, -109.9240
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Lots of wind slabs south of Cooke today. Strong wind all day and lots of blowing snow. 


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40

WebCams


Soda Butte Lodge, looking West

Soda Butte Lodge, looking East

Snowpit Profiles- Cooke City Area

 

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Weather Forecast Cooke City Area

Extended Forecast for

2 Miles NNE Cooke City MT

  • This Afternoon

    This Afternoon: Partly sunny, with a high near 36. West southwest wind around 9 mph.

    High: 36 °F

    Partly Sunny

  • Tonight

    Tonight: A 50 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 2am.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. West southwest wind 5 to 9 mph.  New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

    Low: 23 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow Showers
    then Chance
    Snow Showers

  • Christmas Day

    Christmas Day: Snow showers likely, mainly before 11am.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. West southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

    High: 29 °F

    Snow Showers
    Likely then
    Slight Chance
    Snow Showers

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Southwest wind 6 to 11 mph.

    Low: 17 °F

    Mostly Cloudy

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Snow likely, mainly after 11am.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 24. Southwest wind around 14 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    High: 24 °F

    Snow Likely

  • Thursday Night

    Thursday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 24. West southwest wind 11 to 13 mph.  New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    Low: 24 °F

    Chance Snow

  • Friday

    Friday: Snow likely, mainly after 11am.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25. Southwest wind around 14 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around 2 inches.

    High: 25 °F

    Snow Likely

  • Friday Night

    Friday Night: Snow likely, mainly after 11pm.  Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 25. West southwest wind around 15 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 60%.

    Low: 25 °F

    Snow Likely

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Snow likely, mainly before 11am.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. West southwest wind around 16 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%.

    High: 27 °F

    Snow Likely

The Last Word

12 / 23 / 24  <<  
 
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