20-21

Small natural south of Cooke

Woody Ridge
Cooke City
Code
SS-N-R1-D1-O
Elevation
10000
Aspect
NE
Latitude
44.97390
Longitude
-109.92400
Notes

From email: "I was skiing in Hayden Creek yesterday 20210109 with two others. We found widespread poor structure across the E face of the sub with some failure upon isolation down 65-80cm on 2-3mm faceted crystals HS varied from 110-230cm. We also saw one small R1D1 pocket that pulled out seemingly at the same depth as the aforementioned faceted crystals In slightly steeper and rockier terrain. No photo. The avalanche was on a ENE aspect on Hayden Peak."

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
1
D size
1
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Skier triggered slide north of Cooke

COOKE CITY
Cooke City
Code
SS-ASc-R3-D2-O
Elevation
8700
Aspect
NW
Latitude
45.08390
Longitude
-109.96900
Notes

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."

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
c-A controlled or intentional release by the indicated trigger
R size
3
D size
2
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Weak Layer Grain type
Faceted Crystals
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

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."

Cooke City, 2021-01-11

Couple large collapses in Hyalite Creek

Hyalite - main fork
Northern Gallatin
Code
Latitude
45.44720
Longitude
-110.96200
Notes

From obs: "While ski touring in the Hyalite Creek Drainage today, my ski partner and I both, at separate times of the day, remote triggered sudden collapses. Each time, we felt the snow collapse underneath our feet, and then heard and felt a deep "whumph". The noise came from the North of us both times, where the slope was slightly steeper (still below about 28 degrees-- not colored with "slope angle shading" layer on caltopo.)."

Number of slides
0
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Red Flag
Advisory Year

Whumphing and old avalanche at Bacon Rind

Bacon Rind
Southern Madison
Code
Latitude
44.96090
Longitude
-111.10000
Notes

From email: "...I found a small piece of this mostly low angle slope to have avalanched, probably from a day or two ago, a handful of older tracks were near it. I measure most of this slope around 26-28 degrees... This is on the farthest south part of the top meadow. An epic amount of whumphs up there, I stopped counting after I got to 10 on my second switch back. Our best one knocked snow out of a tree 100’ away. It feels like remote triggering is a very real possibility. Skies were more overcast than expected. While it never went blue, the sun poked out a little in the afternoon. Cold temps, 0F in the AM, warmed to 24F in the PM. 5-6mm surface hoar everywhere,..." 

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness
20.0 inches
Vertical Fall
10ft
Slab Width
20.00ft
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

From email: "...I found a small piece of this mostly low angle slope to have avalanched, probably from a day or two ago, a handful of older tracks were near it. I measure most of this slope around 26-28 degrees... This is on the farthest south part of the top meadow. An epic amount of whumphs up there, I stopped counting after I got to 10 on my second switch back. Our best one knocked snow out of a tree 100’ away. It feels like remote triggering is a very real possibility. Skies were more overcast than expected. While it never went blue, the sun poked out a little in the afternoon.

Southern Madison, 2021-01-11

From email: "...I found a small piece of this mostly low angle slope to have avalanched, probably from a day or two ago, a handful of older tracks were near it. I measure most of this slope around 26-28 degrees... This is on the farthest south part of the top meadow. An epic amount of whumphs up there, I stopped counting after I got to 10 on my second switch back. Our best one knocked snow out of a tree 100’ away. It feels like remote triggering is a very real possibility. Skies were more overcast than expected. While it never went blue, the sun poked out a little in the afternoon.

Southern Madison, 2021-01-11

Widespread Collapsing on Ernest Miller Ridge

Ernie Miller Ridge
Southern Madison
Code
Latitude
44.95600
Longitude
-111.13200
Notes

From obs: "We were heading for Ernie Miller Ridge, but got deterred by our group hearing MORE COLLAPSES AND SETTLEMENTS THAN I'VE EVER HEARD IN A SINGLE TRIP, in over 23 years of backcountry skiing. Some in the open, some in the woods. Some small, some HUGE and FAR running. Some heard by the person in front, some by the 4th in our party, some where we were following an old skin track, some where we were in fresh snow. As a group we probably heard 25 over the course of the day. We didn't dig any formal pits, as the snow was telling us all we needed to know. Stay safe out there. Thanks"

Number of slides
0
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Red Flag
Advisory Year

Cooke

Date
Activity
Skiing
Snowmobiling

Here are a couple more pics from a slide I intentionally triggered with a ski cut this Saturday. Same isolated weak layer that seems to be sporadically showing up in our area; aspect seems to be the primary common denominator. Could feel the “bottomless” unsupportive snow as main red flag exclusively in this slope. Was fairly confident I could get it to pop but still got me to pucker when it went. This case of instability seems to be fairly isolated, but very reactive if you find it.
This unfortunately makes it that much easier to get caught off guard. Another group member is sending a video which pretty much sums it up.

Thank you,
AB

Region
Cooke City
Observer Name
A Bertolino