21-22
From email 3/13/22: "Noticed these small breaks all over the zone [on 3/12/22], mostly on south facing slopes, along with cracking near them. Easily triggered as well as lots of natural breaks. This one was just west of round lake, south facing:" Photo: S. Strenge
Avalanche Details: Many natural 6-10" deep avalanches near Cooke
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Mar 14, 2022
Cooke City, 2022-03-13
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Mar 14, 2022
From email 3/12/22: "Hi there, just wanted to send you guys a neat pic of the climb, Code Red in Flanders from today 3/12. There was ice debris several hundred meters downslope from the pillar, which broke off at some point..." Photo: C. Robinson
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Mar 14, 2022
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Mar 13, 2022
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
<p>Today near Cooke City dangerous avalanche conditions will develop on slopes that are being loaded by wind-drifted snow. Yesterday we saw at least seven natural and human triggered, small avalanches which broke 6-10” deep and relatively wide on a hard melt-freeze crust (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26166"><strong><u>details and photos</u></strong></a>, <a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26165"><strong><u>details and photos</u></strong></a>). A few more inches of snow through today with moderate to strong southwest winds will grow thicker slabs and make large avalanches likely on wind-loaded slopes. Avalanches can potentially break deeper and wider on weak layers buried over 2 feet deep (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beIj2Ar5_yk&list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2… Butte video</u></strong></a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGiz4qC7pQg"><strong><u>Scotch Bonnet avalanche video</u></strong></a><strong>)</strong>. Today, avoid steep wind-loaded slopes, and before riding any steep slopes carefully assess the snowpack for potential instabilities. Avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on wind-loaded slopes and MODERATE on all other slopes.</p>
<p>Yesterday in the northern Bridger Range a snowboarder triggered and was caught in an avalanche that broke 4-8” deep and 100 feet wide. They were not injured (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26170"><strong><u>photos and details</u></strong></a>). Another group had slabs of snow cracking around their skis and retreated from steep terrain (<a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/26171"><strong><u>details</u></strong>…;). Near Bozeman and Big Sky, over the last 72 hours strong west-southwest winds drifted snow into dense slabs that can still be triggered by a person today. Near West Yellowstone and the southern Madison Range, wind increased over the last 24 hours and formed similar fresh drifts that are possible to trigger. These slabs may be unstable where they sit on a hard melt-freeze crust or soft, sugary weak facets (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulXRgmKlrRw"><strong><u>Lionhead video</u></strong></a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o-XoWhmTcU&list=PLXu5151nmAvT1nrM2… Creek Video</u></strong></a>). Before riding steep slopes, carefully assess the snowpack for buried weak layers and avoid slopes where you see signs of snow that was recently blown into thick drifts or slabs. Avalanches are possible to trigger and avalanche danger is MODERATE on wind-loaded slopes and LOW on other slopes.</p>
<p>If you get out, please send us your observations no matter how brief. You can submit them via our website, email (mtavalanche@gmail.com), phone (406-587-6984), or Instagram (#gnfacobs).</p>
Upcoming Education Opportunities
See our education calendar for an up-to-date list of all local classes. Here are a few select upcoming events.
Every Saturday near Cooke City, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. FREE snowpack update and transceiver/rescue training. Stop by for 20 minutes or more at the Round Lake Warming Hut.
Shooting Cracks Ross Peak
Ross Peak
Bridger Range
Code
Latitude
45.85860
Longitude
-110.95600
Notes
From obs 3/12/22: "A group of four of us were hoping to ski the banana ccouloiron Ross Peak today, knowing wwind loadingwould likely be an issue. We approached from the east (?) ridge, and gained enough elevation to cross the face towards the entrance of the line. Upon exiting the protected ridge towards the face (about ~100 ft from the entrance to the banana) we experienced shooting cracks on the heavily cross loaded slope. The wind was blowing heavily and swirling, coming predominately out of the Southwest, which was odd. We decided to turn around and enjoy some highly variable meadow skipping back to the car."
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Red Flag
Advisory Year
Snowboarder triggered, un-injured, N. Bridgers
Northern Bridgers
Bridger Range
Code
HS-ASu-R2-D1.5-O
Elevation
7500
Latitude
45.91960
Longitude
-110.97600
Notes
From obs 3/12/22: "Upon descending a ~35 degree slope, I (the snowboarder) kicked loose a wind slab that propagated 100 feet wide, 8 inch deep (max, 4 inches at edges) wwind slabthat traveled approximately 300 feet (entire slope over 30 degrees) before settling in 2 debris fields, each about 30’ wide and with a maximum of 2’ depth. No one was swept by the debris/buried/injured."
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Hard slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
2
D size
1.5
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
6.0 inches
Vertical Fall
300ft
Slab Width
100.00ft
Images
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year
From obs 3/12/22: "Upon descending a ~35 degree slope, I (the snowboarder) kicked loose a wind slab that propagated 100 feet wide, 8 inch deep (max, 4 inches at edges) wind slab that traveled approximately 300 feet (entire slope over 30 degrees) before settling in 2 debris fields, each about 30’ wide and with a maximum of 2’ depth. No one was swept by the debris/buried/injured."
Avalanche Details: Snowboarder triggered, un-injured, N. Bridgers
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Mar 13, 2022
Bridger Range, 2022-03-13
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Mar 13, 2022