Trip Planning for Cooke City Area

as of 5:00 am
Today3″ | 20-44 NW
Mar 22 4″ | 15-35 SW
Mar 21 4″ | 15-45 W
10020′     03/23 at 16:00
18.1℉
SW - 14mph
Gusts 28 mph
9100′     03/23 at 16:00
22℉
94″ Depth
Primary Problem: Wind Slab
Bottom Line: The primary avalanche concern is wind slab avalanches where yesterday’s strong wind drifted recent snow into slabs up to a couple feet thick. These slabs are possible for a person to trigger today. Avoid steep, recently wind-loaded terrain, typically found near ridgelines, identifiable by cornices above or a textured or rounded snow surface. Near West Yellowstone, weak layers buried in late January continue to result in persistent slab avalanches up to 4 feet deep. These slides have not been huge, but large enough to be deadly, especially in much of the terrain where they have occurred, with trees or depressions at the bottom where snow can pile up deep.

Past 5 Days

Wed Mar 19

Considerable
Thu Mar 20

Considerable
Fri Mar 21

Considerable
Sat Mar 22

Considerable
Today

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Cooke City
Goose Lake
Avalanche at Goose Lake
Incident details include images
Goose Lake
SS-N-R2-D2-I
Elevation: 10,800
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.1153, -109.9140
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Today we saw a D2 slab avalanche at Goose Lake, E facing, 10800 ft. We estimate this avalanche to have ran in the early hours of 3/17. This was the only avalanche we observed in the past 4 days. 


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
COOKE CITY
Wind Slab Avalanches on Scotch Bonnet and Wolverine
Incident details include images
COOKE CITY
N-R2-D2-I
Elevation: 10,000
Coordinates: 45.0202, -109.9380
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

We rode the motorized zone today with Bill and noticed two slides. One on the SE face of Scotch Bonnet in Tragenic Bowl and one on the NE face of Wolverine. They both broke 2-4’ deep. The avalanche on Wolverine slide aprx 1500’. Both were in wind loaded areas at upper elevations. Ski cuts with snowmobiles were not producing avalanches in protected areas. 


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
Henderson Mountain
Dry Loose avalanches near Cooke
Henderson Mountain
L-AS-D1
Elevation: 9,300
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.0524, -109.9450
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Today I triggered a D1 dry loose avalanche on a E facing 35 degree slope, 9300 ft on Mt Henderson. The new snow is very low density and is not bonding well to the old interface. I also observed some more dry loose activity/small wind slabs on Sheep Mt, NE facing, 10400 ft.


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • Today we saw a D2 slab avalanche at Goose Lake, E facing, 10800 ft. We estimate this avalanche to have ran in the early hours of 3/17. Photo: BPG

  • No fresh avalanche activity observed.  Attached is a photo of the only sign of a recent avalanche we could find.  (an old crown on an East aspect at 9600'). Photo: B Fredlund

     

  • Avalanche on the SE face of Scotch Bonnet in Tragenic Bowl and one on the NE face of Wolverine. They both broke 2-4’ deep. The avalanche on Wolverine slide aprx 1500’. Both were in wind loaded areas at upper elevations. Photo: BPG

  • "Today I triggered a D1 dry loose avalanche on a E facing 35 degree slope, 9300 ft on Mt Henderson. The new snow is very low density and is not bonding well to the old interface. I also observed some more dry loose activity/small wind slabs on Sheep Mt, NE facing, 10400 ft."

  • Near Cooke City on Mar 14 there was 6" of new snow and wind was calm, even along the ridge near regularly wind-loaded slopes, and there was no snow blowing off ridgelines. The photo shows a slope that normally receives a lot of wind effect, but the new snow is unaffected indicating the wind has been calm. Photo: GNFAC

  • Dug a pit on a northeast facing slope, 9300' (profile and pic attached) near Cooke City. Snow depth was 7-8 feet. 6" of new snow was right side up. Below the new snow was a soft (1F-) melt-freeze crust with soft decomposing and slightly faceted particles below. ECTN13 broke below the crust. Below that the snowpack was 1F to P+ hard and lacked weak layers. The Feb 4 dirt layer was clearly visible. Photo: GNFAC

  • Today I observed multiple small wind slab avalanches off Woody Ridge. NE and E facing, 10000 ft. Max size D1. Photo: BPG

  • Today I observed multiple small wind slab avalanches off Woody Ridge. NE and E facing, 10000 ft. Max size D1. Photo: BPG

  •  Many dry loose slides on Cooke Peak in Hayden Creek. Photo: BPG

  • We also witnessed a falling cornice today that washed some snow through rocks. Be aware of what's above you.

     

  • Above Goose Creek -hard, dense, strong, and deep snow. Facets from late January are 1F+ hardness

  • Fresh wind slab avalanche seen this afternoon, possibly rider triggered. Photo: N. Meyers

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

     

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Observing the snowpack that caused the avalanche. Photo: GNFAC

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Photo: GNFAC

     

  • An avalanche that was triggered two days ago (Feb 22), remotely from flat terrain above a steep slope, on the northeast end of Mt. Abundance. Photo: GNFAC

  • A rider triggered a small avalanche near Lulu Pass. No one was caught in the slide. Photo: N. Gaddy

  • A rider triggered a small avalanche near Lulu Pass. No one was caught in the slide. Photo: N. Gaddy

  • On Feb 23 We went up Republic Creek to look at the stability of snow that has fallen over the last 2-3 weeks. We were able to easily to trigger a couple wind slab avalanches on test slopes. Photo: GNFAC

  • On Feb 23 We went up Republic Creek to look at the stability of snow that has fallen over the last 2-3 weeks. We were able to easily to trigger a couple wind slab avalanches on test slopes. Photo: GNFAC

  • On Feb 23 We went up Republic Creek to look at the stability of snow that has fallen over the last 2-3 weeks. We found a thin layer buried 2’ deep that showed potential to propagate and slide. We dug down 4 feet, just below the dirt layer that was deposited earlier this month. We got an ECTP30 that broke about 8" above that dirt layer. This was either on a thin layer of facets or preserved lower density dendrites. Photo: GNFAC

  • Today we observed a couple day old wind slabs in steep SW facing terrain on Mt Zimmer. Photo: BPG

     

  • Wet loose occurred sometime today between 11-2 pm on S facing terrain nearby. Photo: BPG 

     

  • Skier in Republic Creek observed a natural (wind/storm slab) avalanche on an east aspect at ~9200ft. Photo: R. Minton

  • I could visibly see some layer distinction about 8-12” deep. This is the same weakish layer we found in our column test, where we got ect16 just below robs knob. This was on a north facing aspect. Photo: I Tuttle

  • In Hayden Creek, we saw many D1-D1.5 wind slab avalanches seen on leeward slopes- east and northeast slopes at and above treeline. Photo: N. Mattes (Beartooth Powder Guides)

  • In Hayden Creek, we saw many D1-D1.5 wind slab avalanches seen on leeward slopes- east and northeast slopes at and above treeline. Photo: N. Mattes (Beartooth Powder Guides)

  • In Hayden Creek, we saw many D1-D1.5 wind slab avalanches seen on leeward slopes- east and northeast slopes at and above treeline. Photo: N. Mattes (Beartooth Powder Guides)

  • In Hayden Creek, we saw many D1-D1.5 wind slab avalanches seen on leeward slopes- east and northeast slopes at and above treeline. Photo: N. Mattes (Beartooth Powder Guides)

  • Noticed a large cornice triggered avalanche on Mineral Mtn today. Likely broke on 2/12 or early am 2/13. E aspect ran almost to the valley floor.  Photo: BPG

  • Saw what looked to be a small wind slab or cornice fall on South Siren in Republic Creek. SE facing, 10100 ft. Photo: BPG

  • Saw a few wind slabs. Some appeared to be skier triggered, some were natural. Photo: BPG

Videos- Cooke City Area

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: Snow showers.  High near 28. West wind around 18 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    High: 28 °F

    Snow Showers

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Snow showers. The snow could be heavy at times.  Temperature rising to around 33 by 3am. West wind 16 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of around 6 inches.

    Low: 28 °F⇑

    Heavy Snow

  • Monday

    Monday: A 50 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before noon.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. West wind 18 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.  New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    High: 39 °F

    Chance Snow
    Showers then
    Slight Chance
    Snow Showers

  • Monday Night

    Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. West wind 13 to 18 mph decreasing to 7 to 12 mph after midnight.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Low: 31 °F

    Chance Snow
    Showers

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44. West wind 7 to 10 mph.

    High: 44 °F

    Partly Sunny

  • Tuesday Night

    Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.

    Low: 27 °F

    Partly Cloudy

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.

    High: 51 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. South wind 7 to 9 mph.

    Low: 32 °F

    Partly Cloudy

  • Thursday

    Thursday: A 20 percent chance of rain after noon.  Partly sunny, with a high near 50. South southwest wind 7 to 14 mph.

    High: 50 °F

    Mostly Sunny
    then Slight
    Chance Rain

The Last Word

03 / 22 / 25  <<  
 
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