Regional Conditions for Cooke City Area

This small, natural avalanche released on a west aspect outside Cooke City. It was seen from the road. Photo: B. Fredlund

This small, natural avalanche released on a north aspect outside Cooke City. It was seen from the road. Photo: B. Fredlund

This small, natural avalanche released on a west aspect outside Cooke City. It was seen from the road. Photo: B. Fredlund

This natural avalanche was observed 1/13/21 south of Cooke City. It looks to have broke that day during snowfall and strong wind. Photo: N. Hance

Surface hoar was observed on many slopes near Cooke City on 1/12/21. It is now buried by recent snow and may cause avalanches. Photo: @turbo_dieshall

A recently observed avalanche that ran something in the January 5th cycle (within a few days of 1/5). This occurred on a northerly aspect around 9,000'. Photo: B Fredlund

A recently observed avalanche that ran something in the January 5th cycle (within a few days of 1/5). This occurred on a westerly aspect around 10,000. Photo: B Fredlund

From obs: "1/9/21 350pm: 333 deg NNW, broke on ski cut lookers right approx 60 ft across, 200 ft or so total distance to toe of debris. Broke 2.5/3 ft deep on a wind loaded pocket, slid on a firm surface with facets on top."

From obs: "1/9/21 350pm: 333 deg NNW, broke on ski cut lookers right approx 60 ft across, 200 ft or so total distance to toe of debris. Broke 2.5/3 ft deep on a wind loaded pocket, slid on a firm surface with facets on top."

Observed 1/9/21. Photo: H. Graham

From email:"We suspect this happened fresh today (1/9/21), we  wonder if those animal tracks coming in from the left triggered it. North facing, 2 ft crown, (I’d guess), about 9k feet, facing Goose Creek. So our friends (while ski cutting) triggered a  very similar slide on this same aspect/elevation mid afternoon today, about 1/4 mile farther west along this ridge, looked to be same depth." Photo: S. Strenge

Photo: B. Fredlund

A clear morning on 1/9/21 provided good opportunity for a photo of the avalanche triggered by a group of skiers on 1/8/21. Photo: B. Fredlund

The slide ran 700 feet vertical and 200 feet wide over a rock band and through trees. Photo: GNFAC

The debris field was estimated to be 4-500 feet wide and up to 6 feet deep. Photo: GNFAC

The bed surface was a uniform 37 degree steepness. Photo: GNFAC

The crown was 1.5-2' deep and broke on a layer of faceted crystals. Photo: GNFAC

From observation (1/8/21): "Skier triggered slide from someone outside our group lower in Silver Creek 9350’ S facing 18-24” deep 60-70’ wide. Ran 500’ skier was able to regain skis and off slab 100’ below initiation."

Natural avalanche NW of Cooke City on an E, SE aspect around 9,700'.

Photo: B. Fredlund

On January 8, 2021 a group of skiers triggered an avalanche on The Fin outside Cooke City (pictured). Three were caught, two were injured and one was evacuated by helicopter due to serious injuries. Photo: A. Mallet

"We observed at least a half a dozen recent/ fresh slab avalanches north of Cooke City today. These slab avalanches were found: on all aspects, near ridgelines, and also on many aprons." Photo: B. Fredlund

"We observed at least a half a dozen recent/ fresh slab avalanches north of Cooke City today. These slab avalanches were found: on all aspects, near ridgelines, and also on many aprons." Photo: B. Fredlund

Natural, unwitnessed avalanche. Cooke got 6" of snow (.6" SWE) the night before. Photo: R. Knatterud

Remote triggered a soft slab with a ski cut. Cut across top of slope and the slide initiated ten yards below. slide was approximately 25 feet at the crown and ran the whole length/ width of the gulley. Couldn’t see past the choke of the gulley. Thicker at the crown where snow was wind drifted 16 in~. Dug a quick pit after. HS 80 cm. Slab on top of crust and facets. No one was caught and we skinned back up and skied out our original skin track. Photo: S. Brown

Remote triggered a soft slab with a ski cut. Cut across top of slope and the slide initiated ten yards below. Slide was approximately 25 feet at the crown and ran the whole length/ width of the gulley. Couldn’t see past the choke of the gulley. Thicker at the crown where snow was wind drifted 16 in~. Dug a quick pit after. HS 80 cm. Slab on top of crust and facets. No one was caught and we skinned back up and skied out our original skin track. Photo: S. Brown

Skiers triggered a wind slab while ascending the north couloir on Abiathar Peak on 1/2/21. On their descent they triggered this similar sized slab. They were not caught or injured, and felt lucky to dodge a bullet. 

This slide was triggered remotely, from low angle terrain, on a 9100’ SE aspect on a 34-35 degree slope. It was a 1.5'-2' deep soft slab (4F+ to F hard) that broke on weak sugary facets.

Skiers triggered this avalanche remotely, from a distance on 1/2/2021. It is on 9100’ elev. SE aspect in Yellowstone N.P. outside of Cooke City.

From obs: "Beautiful blue bird up the Republic Creek drainage skiing woody ridge. Noticed what appeared to be a natural from last cycle although I did notice a skin track headed up that way." Photo: J. Baker

Natural avalanche in Yellowstone, Barronette Peak. Easterly aspects. Photo: B. Fredlund

Natural avalanche in Yellowstone on 12/24/20. Easterly aspect, and mid elevations. Photo: B. Fredlund

Two natural wind slab avalanches on a heavily wind loaded slopes on the northern flank of Sheep Mountain, outside Cooke City. Photo taken 12/23. 

Photo: GNFAC

Natural avalanche on Miller Mountain, outside Cooke City. Photo taken on 12/23. Looks to have broken overnight underneath the new storm snow. Approximately 500 ft wide and ran 500 ft vertical. 

Photo: GNFAC

Natural avalanche on Sheep Mountain, outside Cooke City. Broke beneath a cornice on a heavily wind-loaded steep slope. Photo taken on 12/23. Appears to have broken during the storm on 12/21 or 12/22.

Photo: GNFAC

Near lower meadows off Republic, Hunter's Knob, E aspect ~8,900', avg 1' crown depth. Photo: G. Antonioli