Trip Planning for Cooke City Area

as of 5:00 am
Apr 120″ | 13-25 S
Apr 11 0″ | 10-30 SW
Apr 10 0″ | 10-50 NW
10020′     04/13 at 3:00
11.9℉
W - 12mph
Gusts 29 mph
9100′     04/13 at 03:00
14℉
94″ Depth
Primary Problem: Loose Wet
Bottom Line: Wet Loose avalanches continue to be the main avalanche concern. The snowpack should be mostly wet from above freezing overnight air temperatures and cloudy skies. Wet snow can even be found on north facing slopes except at the highest elevations.Look out for areas where the snowpack is especially wet and unsupportable like slopes that were in the sun yesterday - wet loose avalanches will be more likely in these areas.

Past 5 Days

Tue Apr 8

Low
Wed Apr 9

Moderate
Thu Apr 10

Moderate
Fri Apr 11

Moderate
Sat Apr 12

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Cooke City
Hayden Creek
wet loose avalanches south of Cooke
Hayden Creek
WL-N-D1
Coordinates: 44.9952, -109.9080
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Today I was skiing in East Hayden Creek. I witnessed a cornice fall around 1230pm. Also I triggered multiple wet loose avalanches on several aspects including a north facing slope 9400 ft. None bigger than D1

 


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
COOKE CITY
Skier triggered wind slab near Cooke
Incident details include images
COOKE CITY
SS-ASc-R1-D1
Elevation: 9,800
Aspect: N
Coordinates: 45.0471, -109.9990
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Today A Skier triggered a 6”x20’ wide wind slab on a N aspect at 9,800’.

 


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
COOKE CITY
Skier triggered and natural wet loose near Cooke
Incident details include images
COOKE CITY
WL-ASc-R1-D1.5-O
Elevation: 1,000
Aspect: SE
Coordinates: 45.0202, -109.9380
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Skiers triggered D1-D1.5 wet loose on SE aspect at 10,000’.

There were also natural small wet loose slides today and yesterday. Long running, but narrow, in steep terrain. Typically initiated near rock outcrops.

Today was hotter than yesterday and the top of the snowpack got pretty wet before clouds built in the afternoon. Snow stayed dry on due north up high. 

 


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • Old wind slab, South East on Scotch Bonnet. Photo: Anonymous

     

     

  • Apr 7 A Skier triggered a 6”x20’ wide wind slab on a N aspect at 9,800’.

     

  • Apr 7 A Skier triggered a 6”x20’ wide wind slab on a N aspect at 9,800’.

     

     

  • On Apr 7 Skiers triggered D1-D1.5 wet loose on SE aspect at 10,000’.

     

  • Apr 5 Wind slabs were still reactive. We triggered 3 small, 3-8" deep x 5-15' wide, hard wind (1F+) slabs on convex test slopes well below the main ridgelines. 9,800', NE aspects. Photo: GNFAC

  • Apr 5 Wind slabs were still reactive. We triggered 3 small, 3-8" deep x 5-15' wide, hard wind (1F+) slabs on convex test slopes well below the main ridgelines. 9,800', NE aspects. Also triggered one softer (4F) wind slab just below the high ridgeline, 10,200', NE aspect. 10-15' wide x 6-8" deep (Pictured). Photo: GNFAC

  • Apr 5 We saw a couple 3-6" deep natural wind slab avalanches and a few dry loose slides that looked to have happened within the last 24 hours. Photo: GNFAC

  • Wind slab near Cooke City from yesterday.  Intentionally triggered.  North aspect, 10,100'.  1' deep, 20' wide. Photo: B Fredlund

     

  • Skier took a left turn under cornices to scrub speed and released a 6-10" windslab 40' wide which ran 10' at most. Super soft and easy to ski through. Photo: J Lee

  • From email: "Ski touring near Cooke City today we intentionally triggered a storm slab/ wind slab on a steep north aspect around 9600'.  It was about 6" deep, and 30' wide." Photo: B Fredlund

  • Today we noticed these natural small wind slabs on Mt Henderson. Photo: J Mundt

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  • As we rode, we dug a few snowpits looking for the weak layer that we found yesterday buried about 2 feet deep. While we were able to find this layer, we only got propagation in one of three tests (ECTP 26, E aspect, 9070'). Photo: GNFAC

  • We noted one avalanche on the Fin that likely occurred yesterday or early this morning from a wind slab or cornice fall. Photo: GNFAC

  • Photo of a recent natural avalanche north of Cooke City, observed today (3/23/25).  A S, SE aspect in Sheep Creek at about 9000'.  Photo: B Fredlund

     

  • 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

Videos- Cooke City Area

WebCams


Soda Butte Lodge, looking West

Soda Butte Lodge, looking East

Snowpit Profiles- Cooke City Area

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Forecast Cooke City Area

Extended Forecast for

2 Miles NNE Cooke City MT

  • Today

    Today: A 20 percent chance of snow showers between noon and 3pm.  Partly sunny, with a high near 31. West northwest wind 13 to 16 mph.

    High: 31 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow Showers

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 14. West northwest wind 5 to 11 mph.

    Low: 14 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Monday

    Monday: Sunny, with a high near 43. West northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

    High: 43 °F

    Sunny

  • Monday Night

    Monday Night: Clear, with a low around 25. Southwest wind around 7 mph.

    Low: 25 °F

    Clear

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 52. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph.

    High: 52 °F

    Sunny

  • Tuesday Night

    Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. West southwest wind 6 to 10 mph.

    Low: 30 °F

    Partly Cloudy

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers after noon.  Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. West southwest wind 6 to 16 mph.

    High: 50 °F

    Sunny then
    Chance
    Showers

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: Snow showers.  Low around 27. West wind 7 to 14 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%.

    Low: 27 °F

    Snow Showers

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Snow showers.  Temperature rising to near 29 by 8am, then falling to around 24 during the remainder of the day. North northeast wind 10 to 15 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 90%.

    High: 29 °F⇓

    Snow Showers

The Last Word

Our last daily avalanche forecast will be Sunday, April 20th. We will issue updates on Mondays and Fridays through the end of April.

04 / 11 / 25  <<  
 
this forecast
 
  >>  This is the most recent forecast.