Chris Hericks, snow ranger on Beaverhead Deerlodge NF, points to the lower of two surface hoar layers. We are finding similar layering throughout our entire forecast area. The top 18" of the snowpack is weak and will quickly become unstable when it snows. Photo: GNFAC
Trip Planning for Cooke City Area
Past 5 Days

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Moderate

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Relevant Avalanche Activity
Elevation: 9,242
Coordinates: 44.9899, -109.9650
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
I was touring on the west side of Wyoming creek today. Got some large whoomfs and collapses on the Ridgeline and a poor test score of ectp11 q1 sp 22cm deep on on buried surface hoar on top of facets on an E/SE facing slope at 9242' hs-163cm, slope angle 26° The same layer was easily identifiable in hand shears throughout the day.
More Avalanche Details

SS-N-R1-D1.5-O
Elevation: 8,800
Coordinates: 45.0254, -110.0310
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
From obs: "Naturals from Pebble today. Appeared to be failing on the SH 20cm down. I dug at 8800’, SE, HS150, ECTP11, failing on 2mm SH that’s sitting on top of 20-30 cm of small grain facets. Multiple hand pits failed during isolation on same layer."
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SS-NC-R2-D2-I
Elevation: 10,000
Aspect: SE
Coordinates: 45.0733, -109.9480
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
We saw a natural avalanche on 2/7 that appeared to occur late on 2/6 or early 2/7, on the southeast side of Scotch Bonnet Mtn. - GNFAC
More Avalanche Details
Relevant Photos
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Skiers observed natural avalanche activity just outside the Cooke City advisory area in Yellowstone National Park on Monday. Photo: S Gill
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Skiers observed natural avalanche activity just outside the Cooke City advisory area in Yellowstone National Park on Monday. Photo: S Gill
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A group of riders snapped a photo of this avalanche on Sunday. The slide isn't huge but it would be highly consequential in the treed terrain were trauma is a real possibility. Photo: A. Bertolino
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A group of snowmobilers reported triggering this small avalanche from the backside of the rollover on Sunday. Triggering an avalanche from a long distance away is a clear sign of an unstable snowpack. Photo: A. Bertolino
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This natural avalanche occurred late on 2/6 or early 2/7, on the southeast side of Scotch Bonnet Mtn. Photo: GNFAC
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The crown is not visible (it is down and right) but the X marks the approximate spot the rider was found. Photo: GNFAC
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The crown was measured 4-11 inches deep and 75 feet wide. Photo: GNFAC
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Looking at a weak layer of facets that the avalanche propagated on. Photo: GNFAC
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Looking at the crown from below. Photo: GNFAC
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From Obs: "On the morning of Sunday February 6, a snowmobiler triggered a slide in new snow on the SW face of Sheep Mountain. The slide triggered remotely while the rider was lower on the slope and he was not caught (the visible track is not from the rider who triggered the slide, his track was buried in the debris field). The crown was about 18" deep and 75 feet wide and the slide and the slide ran about 250 feet." Photo: C Mozol
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Skiers observed several slab avalanches on the east face of Woody Ridge. They broke about 12" deep on a weak layer buried by recent snow. Photo: B Zavora
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Skiers observed several slab avalanches on the east face of Woody Ridge. They broke about 12" deep on a weak layer buried by recent snow. Photo: B Zavora
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On Sunday, February 6, Gallatin Country Sheriff Search and Rescue and the GNFAC responded to a avalanche in Lionhead. A snowmobiler was killed on a small steep slope when a shallow avalanche carried him into a terrain trap of trees. Photo: GNFAC
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Small natural slides on 2/6/22 near Cooke City. @coldfear
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From obs 2/6/22: "Small natural soft slab avalanche on a SE aspect at 8737'... Crown was 20cm deep and approximately 15m wide... Around 10am"
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We saw this natural avalanche on Feb 6, 2022 on the north side of Miller Mtn. near Cooke City. It appears to have broke near the end of the 10-14" snow storm that fell the prior day (2/5). Photo: GNFAC
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On Feb 6, 2022 we rode north of Cooke City and found 10-14" of new snow and a layer of buried weak facets that created unstable conditions. This setup makes avalanches possible to trigger on steep slopes. In this pit we had an ECTP13 break on weak facets a couple inches below the new snow. Photo: GNFAC
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From obs (2/4/22): "…the last 2 days was finding buried surface hoar in many locations, up to 10'000'..... And we also observed a fresh avalanche yesterday on the NW aspect of Meridian Peak. I couldn't discern a crown, due to our vantage point and a low cloud, but the debris pile looked relatively deep, and 12-48 hours fresh. Also, we had one significant collapse today on a mid elevation east aspect. A slope with just a touch of wind deposit. (first collapse I've had in months!) The snow that collapsed appeared to be about 30-40' wide. And a hasty pit showed the layer of concern to be buried SH." Photo: B. Fredlund
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This morning while ascending a line on Sawtooth Mountain (Lower Novocain) we triggered an avalanche (ASu-SS-R2-D2-O) that caught and carried my partner an estimated 180M and partially buried him. His leg and hand were unburied and excavation of the head was done in less than 2 minutes of the incident. The avalanche only involved new snow from the last 48hrs and was triggered on a MF crust/facet combo 30cm down(formed 1/30/22). The avalanche was 30cm at its deepest and 20-30M wide and ran 250M. We were lucky to find both skis and poles a little ways downslope. No injuries were sustained.
We both agree that we were trying to outsmart the instability that was present on steeper S facing terrain and should have turned around much sooner, we were very lucky. There was 30+cm HST in favored areas and the high winds from 1/31/22 formed some sensitive windslabs in specific areas.
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Graph of Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) at SNOTEL sites in the GNFAC forecast area from October 1, 2021 to January 30, 2022. It highlights the extended dry conditions in January that contributed to weak layers forming at the top of the snowpack. GNFAC
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From email on 1/22/22: "This morning (20220122) I was ascending a steep North facing couloir up the N summit of Republic Mountain and on ascent (boot packing) about 1/2 way up the line I triggered a small soft slab from that propagated around the rock I was tucked behind, 40M above me and and 20M across. Luckily, my ascent line was sheltered from any above exposure and I was not caught or carried in anyway. The crown ranged from 8cm where I triggered it to an estimated 25cm at its deepest. The avalanche ran an estimated 200M. I believe the windslab ran on 1-3mm NSF's (evident on the bed surface) formed in the high pressure before the recent light precip."
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From email 1/22/22: "Several dry loose naturals on Climax in steep terrain. Perhaps from Thursday or Friday?" Photo: N. Hance
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Snowmobilers observed several small, dry loose avalanches in the new snow on Crown Butte on 1/21/22. Photo: R. DeSilva
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Snowmobilers observed small, naturally triggered avalanches on Crown Butte. This avalanche occurred in the new snow on a wind-loaded slope. Photo: R. DeSilva
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Observers noted very small, skier-triggered avalanches in the new snow on Chimney Rock. Photo: R. DeSilva
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On January 18, 2022 a weak layer of surface hoar was buried by 1-2" of new snow near Cooke City. As more snow builds a slab over this weak layer it will cause avalanches. Photo: GNFAC
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On January 18, 2022 a weak layer of surface hoar was buried by 1-2" of new snow near Cooke City. As more snow builds a slab over this weak layer it will cause avalanches. Photo: GNFAC
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We saw surface hoar on all aspects near Cooke City on January 16, 2022. Photo: GNFAC
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Settlement rings around the base of trees near Cooke City, January 15, 2022. Photo: B. Fredlund
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A cornice collapse likely triggered this large natural avalanche on 27 Dec 2021. The crown was 4-6' deep. Photo: S. Culotta
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From obs: 1/8/22: "...One minor avalanche observed in Republic Creek. It was on a steep and rocky E, NE aspect around 9700'..." Photo: B. Fredlund
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From obs: 1/8/22: "Observed natural north Scotch Bonnet". Ran during storm 1/6-1/8. Photo: D. Wycoff
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Large, deep avalanche on East face of Mt. Abundance. Photo from 1/2/22: S. Strenge
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Large, deep avalanche on East face of Mt. Abundance. Photo from 1/2/22: S. Strenge
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Large, deep avalanche on East face of Mt. Abundance. Photo from 1/2/22: S. Strenge
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Snomobilers observed this natural avalanche on a NE aspect on Sheep Mountain on 1/1/22. It appeared to be more than 48 hours old. Photo: J. Fritz
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This photo shows where people and their machines were buried. Photo: S. Strenge
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Upper portion of the fatal avalanche on Scotch Bonnet. 12/28/21
Photo: GNFAC
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Crown of the fatal avalanche on Scotch Bonnet. 12/28/21.
Photo: GNFAC
Videos- Cooke City Area
Snow Observations- Cooke City Area

I was touring on the west side of Wyoming creek today. Got some large whoomfs and collapses on the Ridgeline and a poor test score of ectp11 q1 sp 22cm deep on on buried surface hoar on top of facets on an E/SE facing slope at 9242' hs-163cm, slope angle 26° The same layer was easily identifiable in hand shears throughout the day.
Full Snow Observation Report

On the morning of Sunday February 6, a snowmobiler triggered a slide in new snow on the SW face of Sheep Mountain. The slide triggered remotely while the rider was lower on the slope and he was not caught (the visible track is not from the rider who triggered the slide, his track was buried in the debris field). The crown was about 18" deep and 75 feet wide and the slide and the slide ran about 250 feet.
Full Snow Observation Report
Weather Stations- Cooke City Area
Weather Forecast Cooke City Area
2 Miles NNE Cooke City MT
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Today
Mostly Sunny
High: 55 °F
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Tonight
Mostly Clear
Low: 34 °F
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Thursday
Mostly Sunny
High: 62 °F
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Thursday
NightChance
ShowersLow: 40 °F
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Friday
Chance
Showers then
Showers
LikelyHigh: 57 °F
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Friday
NightShowers
LikelyLow: 35 °F
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Saturday
Showers
High: 46 °F
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Saturday
NightRain/Snow
then Chance
Snow ShowersLow: 31 °F
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Sunday
Snow Showers
Likely then
Snow ShowersHigh: 44 °F
The Last Word
We completed our investigation of the avalanche fatality at Ski Hill in Lionhead. A detailed report is HERE, the field video is on our YouTube channel and the incident is recorded on our Accident Reports page.