Recent natural avalanches near Cooke City, observed 1/29/23. Photo: B. Fredlund
Recent natural avalanches near Cooke City, observed 1/29/23. Photo: B. Fredlund
Some photos of recent natural avalanche activity near Cooke City attached. We observed about 10 slab avalanches today that ran during this cycle.
Several avalanches in the Goose Lake area. Assuming they happened on Friday or Saturday. Photo: J. Mundt (Beartooth Powder Guides)
We rode up to Daisy Pass to Wolverine Pass then out Lulu Pass. There was 1.5-2’ of fresh snow. There were several natural new snow avalanches on all aspects. We rode past Scotch Bonnet and saw more naturals. The slide on Scotch Bonnet was R2 D2, broke 2 feet deep, and ran 4-500 feet vertical, 100 feet wide. We dug a pit to the east of the wilderness boundary. On the N aspect at 9,100’ there was ~6.5’ feet of snow (210 cm). The 18” of new snow had 1” of SWE. We found a layer of buried surface hoar in the top half of the snowpack. We got an ECTP 13 on that layer of surface hoar (4.0 mm) 1.5’ below the surface, and we got an ECTP 19 on a layer of 1.0 mm facets 2.5’ below the surface. The surface hoar is the biggest concern moving forward, and it will take longer for the snowpack to adjust to this new snow since it's sitting atop persistent weak layers. We avoided avalanche terrain today.
Took a drive up and around the Yellowstone Club and saw this slide today. I think that is Cedar Mt with Pioneer Ridge in front and to the left. Stay safe out there.
Took a drive up and around the Yellowstone Club and saw this slide today. I think that is Cedar Mt with Pioneer Ridge in front and to the left. Stay safe out there. Photo. B. Rode
