10-11

The northern Madison Range, the mountains around Cooke City and the Washburn Range:

A series of storms over the past few weeks, which have been interrupted by cold and clear conditions, have produced a layered snowpack that now resembles an outrageous holiday cake; one that is better to look at than to bite into. However, the temptation to enjoy that cake can prove irresistible, setting backcountry travelers up for consequences they may not expect or be prepared for. 

This natural broke on a northeast facing slope in the Pebble Creek drainage near Cooke City.  The crown is close to 2 ft deep and it ran approximately 300 vertical. Photo: Beau Fredlund

The northern Madison Range, the mountains around Cooke City and the Washburn Range:

The northern Madison Range, the mountains around Cooke City and the Washburn Range:

The entire Madison Range, southern Gallatin Range, Lionhead area near West Yellowstone, mountains around Cooke City and the Washburn Range:

This skier triggered avalanche occured on a 22 degree slope just outside the boundaries of the Yellowstone Club.  Because of this slope angle, the avalanche did not run very far, but avalanches occuring on such low angle slopes indicate the extreme weakness of this surface hoar layer. Photo: YC Ski Patrol.

This snowpit is from a skier triggered avalanche near Big Sky on a 22 degree slope.  The snowpack is mostly strong dense snow except for a very weak layer of surface hoar sitting on top of a crust about 17 inches down. Pit image: YC Ski Patrol

The mountains around Cooke City and Washburn Range: