Cooke City

Wet snow and new snow

Date
Activity
Skiing

Skied north of Cooke City the last couple days ( Sat. 4/27 and Sun. 4/28), near Lulu Pass and Henderson Mtn.. Yesterday there was 2-3" of moist new snow, and the snowpack below had not refrozen up to 9500-10k', it was very wet and unsupportable below the new snow. Moderate east wind yesterday drifted the new snow into small slabs up high.

Today there was 1-2" new snow on top of a thin, breakable crust around 9,000', with wet unsupportable snow below the crust. The crust softened quickly in any sunshine midday. Pulses of heavy snow mixed with periods of partial sunshine and calm-light wind.

Saw only small slabs crack beneath skis along the ridge yesterday, and minimal wet snow avalanche activity. Despite minimal observed avalanche activity, it seemed like a skier or rider could trigger a larger wet avalanche, especially on slopes that received sunshine.

Photos attached of what appear like wet slabs possibly from Friday when the precip. started after the first night or two of poor freeze (North side of Republic, and Henderson Bench).

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Lulu Pass
Observer Name
Alex Marienthal

Wall Mountain

Date
Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Republic Mountain
Observer Name
Steve

On 4/26/24 large natural wet slabs were seen running on Wall Mountain near Silver Gate. An observer from Beartooth Powder Guides sent us a video of them happening at 3pm while it was 43 degrees F. I also noted a similar large crown on the north side of Republic Mtn. that probably also happened this afternoon. Photo: GNFAC

Cooke City, 2024-04-26

On 4/26/24 large natural wet slabs were seen running on Wall Mountain near Silver Gate. An observer from Beartooth Powder Guides sent us a video of them happening at 3pm while it was 43 degrees F. I also noted a similar large crown on the north side of Republic Mtn. that probably also happened this afternoon. Photo: GNFAC

Cooke City, 2024-04-26

On 4/26/24 large natural wet slabs were seen running on Wall Mountain near Silver Gate. An observer from Beartooth Powder Guides sent us a video of them happening at 3pm while it was 43 degrees F. I also noted a similar large crown on the north side of Republic Mtn. that probably also happened this afternoon.

Cooke City, 2024-04-26

On 4/26/24 large natural wet slabs were seen running on Wall Mountain near Silver Gate. An observer from Beartooth Powder Guides sent us a video of them happening at 3pm while it was 43 degrees F. I also noted a similar large crown on the north side of Republic Mtn. that probably also happened this afternoon. Photo: GNFAC

Cooke City, 2024-04-26

Wet slabs near Cooke City/Silver Gate

Date

On 4/26/24 large natural wet slabs were seen running on Wall Mountain near Silver Gate. An observer from Beartooth Powder Guides sent us a video of them happening at 3pm while it was 43 degrees F. I also noted a similar large crown on the north side of Republic Mtn. that probably also happened this afternoon.

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Wall Mountain
Observer Name
Alex Marienthal

Wet slabs near Cooke City/Silver Gate

COOKE CITY
Cooke City
Code
WS-N-R2-D2.5-O
Elevation
8500
Aspect
N
Latitude
45.02020
Longitude
-109.93800
Notes

Wet snow activity on Wall Mountain near Silver Gate, Republic Mtn. and Henderson Bench near Cooke.

Number of slides
4
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Wet slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
2
D size
2.5
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Wet Snow
Slab Thickness
36.0 inches
Vertical Fall
1000ft
Slab Width
220.00ft
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year