From obs 5/7/23: "Natural R3-4, D4 ripped out a large chunk of the south face of Wilson during the last warm period I would assume. Debris everywhere and one large boat-sized pile even scoured a path further down than the rest of the debris. Looked to be a mix of wet loose and wet slab release from high up. Alpha angle at the bottom of the debris was 25 degrees" Photo: C. Ellingson
Natural R3-4, D4 ripped out a large chunk of the south face of Wilson during the last warm period I would assume. Debris everywhere and one large boat-sized pile even scoured a path further down than the rest of the debris. Looked to be a mix of wet loose and wet slab release from high up. Alpha angle at the bottom of the debris was 25 degrees
Pictures from this morning (May 1) but I’m sure these all ran late last week. They took out at least one or two skin tracks set during the big dump (40”) that ran right up the center.
Unconsolidated, dripping wet snow this morning mid mountain around 830 AM. Top 3-4” had frozen but soft by 830.
While touring into the Dry Boulder Creek drainage, we noticed remnants of many recent wet loose slides, and one significant wet slab avalanche. The wet loose slides had occurred on all aspects, including low-elevation north facing slopes. I estimate that most of the wet loose slides we observed were no larger than R2 for their respective paths, and most were D2, with some large, high elevation slides, reaching a possible D3.
We observed the remnant of one large wet slab on an east facing slope at around 8500 ft. I estimated the crown to be around 500 ft wide, and 5 feet deep at its maximum. I estimate this slide was a R2 D3, with an unknown natural trigger.
We took these observations into account, staying off of solar aspects, and staying out of avalanche terrain once the snow began to soften.
"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
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'.
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
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.
