Trip Planning for Cooke City Area

as of 5:00 am
Today4″ | 15-38 SW
Mar 15 1″ | 5-24 NW
Mar 14 5″ | 10-35 NW
10020′     03/16 at 9:00
12.1℉
W - 14mph
Gusts 35 mph
9100′     03/16 at 08:00
15℉
82″ Depth
Primary Problem: Wind Slab
Bottom Line: Wind slab avalanches are easy to trigger and dangerous avalanche conditions will develop. Heavy snowfall is possible today and strong wind will continue, so the size, likelihood and distribution of avalanches will increase through the day. Loose snow avalanches and storm slab avalanches are also possible and can easily run long distances on the crust below the new snow. An additional problem south of Big Sky to West Yellowstone are deeper persistent slab avalanches breaking 2-5 feet deep on the weak snow that was buried in late January. Avoid steep wind-loaded slopes. Consider avoiding all slopes steeper than 30 degrees as heavy snowfall and strong wind increase the chances of human-triggered and natural avalanches through the day.

Past 5 Days

Wed Mar 12

Low
Thu Mar 13

Moderate
Fri Mar 14

Moderate
Sat Mar 15

Moderate
Today

Considerable

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Cooke City
Crown Butte
small dry loose slides north of Cooke
Incident details contain video
Crown Butte
L-N-R1-D1-S
Elevation: 9,500
Aspect: S
Coordinates: 45.0525, -109.9620
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

There was a small natural dry loose on south face of Crown Butte and I triggered a dry loose slide on a test slope near the ridge on Miller ridge (video).


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
Hayden Creek
Small Wind Slab Avalanches on Woody Ridge
Incident details include images
Hayden Creek
SS-N-D1
Elevation: 10,000
Coordinates: 44.9952, -109.9080
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Today I observed multiple small wind slab avalanches off Woody Ridge. NE and E facing, 10000 ft. Max size D1. Also, there was many dry loose slides on Cooke Peak in Hayden Creek.


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
Miller Ridge
Wet Loose Avalanches, W Miller Ridge
Miller Ridge
WL-N
Elevation: 9,500
Aspect: SW
Coordinates: 45.0423, -109.9650
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Today we observed wet loose avalanches in steep, rocky terrain on the west side of Miller ridge. SW facing, 9500 ft

 


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • "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

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

  • On Feb 9 we watched two snowboarders trigger separate wind slabs, while riding one at a time in avalanche terrain, on the south side of Scotch Bonnet. Photo: J. Mancey

     

  • On Feb 9 we watched two snowboarders trigger separate wind slabs, while riding one at a time in avalanche terrain, on the south side of Scotch Bonnet. Photo: GNFAC

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

Winter Storm Warning March 16, 09:42am until March 18, 12:00pmClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Storm Warning
  •   Winter Storm Warning March 16, 09:42am until March 18, 12:00pm

    NOW until 12:00pm Tue

    Winter Storm Warning

  • Today

    High: 31 °F

    Heavy Snow
    and Blowing
    Snow

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Snow.  Areas of blowing snow. Steady temperature around 30. Southwest wind 21 to 31 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around 3 inches.

    Low: 30 °F

    Snow and
    Areas Blowing
    Snow

  • Monday

    Monday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times.  Patchy blowing snow before 3pm. High near 31. West southwest wind 16 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of around 5 inches.

    High: 31 °F

    Heavy Snow
    and Patchy
    Blowing Snow

  • Monday Night

    Monday Night: Snow.  Low around 17. West southwest wind 7 to 13 mph becoming north after midnight.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of around 4 inches.

    Low: 17 °F

    Snow

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: Snow.  High near 24. Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around 2 inches.

    High: 24 °F

    Snow

  • Tuesday Night

    Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow before midnight.  Partly cloudy, with a low around 4. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Low: 4 °F

    Chance Snow
    then Partly
    Cloudy

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. West southwest wind 6 to 15 mph.

    High: 27 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

    Low: 13 °F

    Mostly Cloudy

The Last Word

03 / 15 / 25  <<  
 
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