Weather and Avalanche Log for Tue Mar 29, 2022
Freezing Level 8000-9000'
1-5 hr freeze @0400
21-22
Wet Snow Avalanches Cooke City
COOKE CITY
Cooke City
Code
WS-N-R2-D2-O
Latitude
45.02020
Longitude
-109.93800
Notes
Skiers noted recent wet slab and wet loose avalanche activity on March 28th in the mountains near Cooke City. Most likely occurred on 3/27.
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Wet slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
2
D size
2
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Wet Snow
Images
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
Skiers noted wet slab and wet loose avalanche activity on March 28th in the mountains near Cooke City. Photo: B. Fredlund
Avalanche Details: Wet Snow Avalanches Cooke City
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Wed Mar 30, 2022
Cooke City, 2022-03-28
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Wed Mar 30, 2022
Skiers noted wet slab and wet loose avalanche activity on March 28th in the mountains near Cooke City. Photo: B. Fredlund
Avalanche Details: Wet Snow Avalanches Cooke City
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Wed Mar 30, 2022GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Thu Mar 31, 2022
Cooke City, 2022-03-28
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Wed Mar 30, 2022GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Thu Mar 31, 2022
Skiers noted wet slab and wet loose avalanche activity on March 28th in the mountains near Cooke City. Photo: B. Fredlund
Avalanche Details: Wet Snow Avalanches Cooke City
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Tue Mar 29, 2022GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Apr 1, 2022
Cooke City, 2022-03-28
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Tue Mar 29, 2022GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Apr 1, 2022
Explosive and skier triggered wet slabs at Y.C.
Yellowstone Club
Northern Madison
Code
WS-AE-R4-D2
Elevation
8400
Aspect
NE
Latitude
45.23110
Longitude
-111.44100
Notes
"We also conducted avalanche mitigation on our Cabin’s Road at 4:30pm. The snowpack in this zone doesn’t get skied and is representative of the backcountry. The slope is ENE around 8,400’. Several wet slab avalanches were produced with explosives and ski cutting. The avalanches ranged from R4/D2 to R2/D1. They all hit the road and several crossed, and buried, the Cabin’s Road. Although most of this mitigation was done with explosives, it took minimal effort with skis to get snow moving. The crowns were 2-3’ deep and ran on the ground."
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Wet slab avalanche
Trigger
An explosive thrown or placed on or under the snow surface by hand
R size
4
D size
2
Problem Type
Wet Snow
Images
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Mar 28, 2022
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p>Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist today. Large, destructive wet snow avalanches are likely and will occur naturally or can easily be triggered by a person. Today will be the sixth in a row with temperatures well above freezing. The snowpack did not freeze or only froze slightly the last five nights in a row, with last night being the warmest yet. Melt-water is flowing downward through the previously dry snowpack. When water pools on weak layers or crusts it can make the snowpack unstable and create wet slab avalanches. Where the snowpack lacks layering to create slabs, wet loose avalanches as deep as the entire snowpack can fail and be equally destructive. </p>
<p>Yesterday, ski patrols at Bridger Bowl, Big Sky and Yellowstone Club observed widespread natural wet slabs and wet loose activity in closed terrain (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26375"><strong><u>photos</u></strong><…;). Dave drove up Bridger Canyon and saw wet slabs in Argentina Bowl (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26363"><strong><u>details and photos</u></strong></a>) and full depth wet loose slides north of Ross Peak (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26364"><strong><u>details and photo</u></strong></a>). On my drive into Cooke City I saw a couple natural large wet slabs (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/wet-slab-south-silver-gate"><stro…;), and many wet loose avalanches (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/22/wet-slides-peak-9595-near-ynp"><s…;). Recent activity has been widespread on slopes that receive sunshine. Today on higher, shadier slopes melt-water will be hitting weak layers for the first time, and large wet avalanches are possible on slopes facing any direction.</p>
<p>Plan to avoid steep slopes today. Consider what terrain is above you and avoid areas below steep slopes where natural wet avalanches could deposit deep, heavy debris piles. Without a good refreeze last night the snowpack will be unstable as soon as the sun shines this morning, human triggered avalanches are likely and avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE. As temperatures rise to 50-60 F today, large natural wet avalanches will be likely and danger will rise to HIGH.</p>
<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our website, email (mtavalanche@gmail.com), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>
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Natural wet slides in closed terrain at Bridger, Big Sky and Y.C.
Bridger Bowl
Bridger Range
Code
WL-N-R2-D2-O
Elevation
8500
Aspect Range
E-SE-S-SW
Latitude
45.81560
Longitude
-110.92300
Notes
Ski patrols at Bridger, Big Sky and Y.C. observed many natural wet slabs and wet loose avalanches in closed terrain, and nearby backcountry terrain, throughout the day on 3/27/22.
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Wet loose-snow avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
2
D size
2
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Wet Snow
Images
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
On 3/27/22 Big Sky ski patrol witnessed many natural wet slides in closed terrain. Photo: BSSP