The snowmobiler was recovered here. He was not wearing a beacon and found with a probe strike 2+ hours after being buried. Photo: S. Walsh
This avalanche ran full track and buried and killed a snowmobiler outside Cooke City. Photo: B. Zavora
This avalanche, along with others, were seen up Hyalite during the Avalanche Warning on 3/12. It's located below an unamed peak between Maid and Divide. This ran to the creek. Photo: B. VandenBos
On Wednesday, February 26, a lone snowboarder descended the Chippewa area on Lone Mountain and triggered an avalanche on an ESE aspect. He was caught, carried downhill, and partially buried with a minor foot/ankle injury. The avalanche broke over 500 feet wide and ran 250 feet vertical. The slope angle near the trigger point ranged from 35-39 degrees. The crown was 2-3 feet deep. This avalanche broke on a thin layer of faceted snow crystals that formed in late January. US Classification is SS-ARu-O-R4-D2.
Bridger Range Gallatin Range Madison Range
Lionhead area near West Yellowstone Cooke City
Although Mill Creek in the Absaroka Range is out of our advisory area, this avalanche from Sunday, March 9 is impressive. If you ski in these areas you will be especially interested. This is a direct quote from an email: "We triggered this slide in the flats above the ridge from about 5 ft away from the slope in the center of the photo where the trees meet the horizon. The slide initiated on an ice crust below a hard wind slab. The crown was 3 ft deep then stepped down to facets above the rocky ground.
Cooke City
Today, the main concern will be avalanches breaking in the upper portion of the snowpack. On mid to low elevations slopes, the snow surface has lost strength due to above freezing temperatures. This will make wet loose avalanches likely on steep slopes. At upper elevations, wind slabs will be the primary concern. Watch out for and avoid wind loaded slopes.
