Trip Planning for Cooke City Area

From email: “These pics are from last June 10-11, after the pass reopened on Friday. I was skiing the Gardner headwall at 5:30, solo, when this monster released. Yah. The initial cornice collapse triggered and entrained a secondary slab of varying thickness whose crown is seen in one of the photos.”

On May 14 and 15 we saw crowns and debris of wet slabs that ran naturally over the past couple weeks.

Scotch Bonnet, S aspect, 9800'; Sheep Mtn. SW aspect, 9800'; Crown Butte, SE aspect, 10000'.

Hard to say exactly when they all occurred. The slides on Scotch Bonnet and Sheep appeared slightly fresher, but could have been a week old.

On May 14 and 15 we saw crowns and debris of wet slabs that ran naturally over the past couple weeks.

Scotch Bonnet, S aspect, 9800'; Sheep Mtn. SW aspect, 9800'; Crown Butte, SE aspect, 10000'.

Hard to say exactly when they all occurred. The slides on Scotch Bonnet and Sheep appeared slightly fresher, but could have been a week old.

On May 14 and 15 we saw crowns and debris of wet slabs that ran naturally over the past couple weeks.

Scotch Bonnet, S aspect, 9800'; Sheep Mtn. SW aspect, 9800'; Crown Butte, SE aspect, 10000'.

Hard to say exactly when they all occurred. The slides on Scotch Bonnet and Sheep appeared slightly fresher, but could have been a week old.

On May 14 and 15 we saw crowns and debris of wet slabs that ran naturally over the past couple weeks.

Scotch Bonnet, S aspect, 9800'; Sheep Mtn. SW aspect, 9800'; Crown Butte, SE aspect, 10000'. Hard to say exactly when they all occurred. 

"A natural wet slab avalanche that occurred just south of Cooke City yesterday May 3, around 6pm.

The slide is on a northerly spect around 8500'." Photo: B. Fredlund

From obs. “Natural wet slab avalanche, north of Cooke City, which likely happened on April 30th (observed May 1).

It's on a SW aspect, about 10,500'.  Crown estimated to be 4-6' deep.” Photo: B. Fredlund

Give Big Gallatin Valley is May 4-5. The Friends of the Avalanche Center are participating again this year and thank you for your support. Between 6pm on May 4 through 6pm on May 5 you can support your favorite local non-profits. Donate Here.

On 4/11/23 There were 6-10 D1.5-D2 wet loose slides scattered around the area that we could see, similar to attached picture of Crown Butte (We could see Miller Mtn. east and north, Scotch Bonnet, Henderson, Crown Butte, Abundance, Wolverine). Photo: GNFAC

On 4/11/23 a wet slide buried one lane of road in YNP on a steep, treed ENE facing slope at 6900'. Photo: GNFAC

On 4/11/23 a wet slide (R3-D1.5) buried one lane of road in YNP on a steep, treed ENE facing slope at 6900'. Photo: GNFAC

On 4/10/23... At lower elevations where the snowpack is shallower, closer to silver gate and the northeast corner of the park, there were some deeper wet loose slides (D2) and a couple small wet slabs (photo). I would estimate most of these happened yesterday (4/10).

A large cornice collapse on Mount Abundance triggered an avalanche on the slope below. Photo: A Mulkey

A small cornice fall near Cooke City and pinwheels from a rocky face. Photo: A. Mulkey

Very large deep slab on Mt. Abundance that likely broke 4/2-4/4 after this area got a foot of snow equal to 1" of SWE. Photo: B. Fredlund (4/8/23)

From 4/7/23: "Lots of naturals and maybe a rider triggered avalanche seen today. Steep solar aspects had lots of wet loose activity and small cornice/pillow fall." Photo: Z. Peterson

From obs 4/7/23: "Lots of naturals and maybe a rider triggered avalanche seen today. Steep solar aspects had lots of wet loose activity and small cornice/pillow fall." Photo: Z. Peterson

From obs 4/7/23: "Lots of naturals and maybe a rider triggered avalanche seen today. Steep solar aspects had lots of wet loose activity and small cornice/pillow fall." Photo: Z. Peterson 

Lots of naturals and maybe a rider triggered avalanche seen today. Steep solar aspects had lots of wet loose activity and small cornice/pillow fall. 

From instagram: Skier triggered windslab on Scotch bonnet near Cooke City. Approximately 75 ft wide.

Photo of recent, natural wind slab avalanche near Cooke City. (which likely happened last night). The avalanche is on a SE aspect around 10,000'.  The crown looks to be about 1-3' deep and 75' wide.
Photo: B. Fredlund (taken 3/6/23)

From IG: “Wanted to touch base about an avalanche we triggered on the shoulder of Mineral Mountain today. While skinning up there was obvious wind loading coming from the south. I kicked around a bit near the edge of the ridge (no cornice) and remote triggered this slide from 20’ away. It broke 12-18” deep, and propagated 700-800’ wide. Ran full length of the slope into old growth trees 1200’ below. Would estimate R4 D3. We found good stable skiing on the south aspect (~35°)”

Skiers in the Republic Creek drainage saw a fresh natural avalanche on Woody Ridge. The avalanche occurred on a NW aspect, around 9200' (likely last night). Estimated size: 1-3' deep and about 100' wide. Photo: B. Fredlund

Skiers in the Republic Creek drainage saw a fresh natural avalanche on Woody Ridge. The avalanche occurred on a NW aspect, around 9200' (likely last night). Estimated size: 1-3' deep and about 100' wide. Photo: B. Fredlund

From email: "Saw this very large avalanche on Climax. The crown looks fresh, so it likely occurred the day or night of 4/1?
Hard to tell but the crown looks to be about 4-6’ deep at its deepest. The debris ran to the creek.
E aspect at 10000’." Photo: N Hance

From email: "Saw this very large avalanche on Climax. The crown looks fresh, so it likely occurred the day or night of 4/1?
Hard to tell but the crown looks to be about 4-6’ deep at its deepest. The debris ran to the creek.
E aspect at 10000’." Photo: N Hance

Checking the slope angle on the west side of Henderson Mountain outside Cooke City. Selecting terrain less than 30 degrees steep is the most reliable way to avoid avalanches. The most reliable way to know the slope angle, measure it. Photo: GNFAC

Beartooth Powder Guides investigated the crown of the slide that was triggered by a snowmobiler near Daisy Pass on 3/23/23. Photo: Z. Peterson

One of the snowmobiles that was involved in the avalanche near Daisy Pass on 3/23/23. Photo: @maria_elizabeth521

On the morning of March 23, 2023 near Daisy Pass, two snowmobilers were stuck on a slope and a third was snowmobiling up to help when a large avalanche was triggered. The two stuck riders were caught and carried, and one of them sustained potentially life-threatening leg injuries. The third rider was able to safely ride off the slope and was not caught by the avalanche. Photo: B. Zavora

On the morning of March 23, 2023 near Daisy Pass, two snowmobilers were stuck on a slope and a third was snowmobiling up to help when a large avalanche was triggered. The two stuck riders were caught and carried, and one of them sustained potentially life-threatening leg injuries. The third rider was able to safely ride off the slope and was not caught by the avalanche. Photo: B. Zavora

On the morning of March 23, 2023 near Daisy Pass, two snowmobilers were stuck on a slope and a third was snowmobiling up to help when a large avalanche was triggered. The two stuck riders were caught and carried, and one of them sustained potentially life-threatening leg injuries. The third rider was able to safely ride off the slope and was not caught by the avalanche. Photo: B. Zavora

On the morning of March 23, 2023 near Daisy Pass, two snowmobilers were stuck on a slope and a third was snowmobiling up to help when a large avalanche was triggered. The two stuck riders were caught and carried, and one of them sustained potentially life-threatening leg injuries. The third rider was able to safely ride off the slope and was not caught by the avalanche. Photo: B. Zavora

Skied on west and east sides of Woody Ridge.  Observed a few small soft wind slab avalanches involving only new snow around the submarine. Dug a pit about a meter deep on west aspect about 9,700 feet.  HS was 290cm. No result on extended column test. Fist to 265, 4F to 245, 1f to 200 where there is a crust layer, back to 1f below that.

"Attached are a few photos of old deep slab avalanches north of town... the south face of scotch bonnet. Hard to tell the depth of the crown but it’s very visible from the lulu road, so probably pretty deep." Photo: Z. Peterson

Attached are a few photos of old deep slab avalanches north of town... a south face north of round lake above 10,000’. The crown was mostly filled in but the deepest exposed part was 2-3’ deep. Photo: Z. Peterson

From 3/18/23: "Watched two riders on the north side of Henderson / Daisy pass high marking. One triggered a large avalanche and got stuck at the crown. Crown was taller than him. Guessing 8-10’ deep and 200+ yards wide.... We were across around the sheep mtn/ Scotch Bonnet area and watched the whole thing happen. We boogied over there as fast as possible to help." Photo: C. Diffley

From 3/18/23: "Watched two riders on the north side of Henderson / Daisy pass high marking. One triggered a large avalanche and got stuck at the crown. Crown was taller than him. Guessing 8-10’ deep and 200+ yards wide.... We were across around the sheep mtn/ Scotch Bonnet area and watched the whole thing happen. We boogied over there as fast as possible to help." Photo: C. Diffley

A few recent slides were visible today on south, east and west aspect around goose lake zone. Looked like mostly wind slabs in the new snow. Photo: P. Hinmon

A few recent slides were visible today on south, east and west aspect around goose lake zone. Looked like mostly wind slabs in the new snow. Photo: P. Hinmon