Natural avalnaches are still occurring in the mountains outside of Cooke City. This slide took place on a heavily wind loaded, east facing slope. Photo Will Shoutis
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This large avalanche was seen yesterday on Lionhead near Airplane Bowl. It's an east to northeast facing steep slope. The slide buried part of the trail. It released on Friday, February 3rd. Photo: T. DeTienne
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Sun Feb 5, 2012
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
The southern Madison and southern Gallatin Ranges, the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone and the mountains around Cooke City:
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Feb 4, 2012
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
The southern Madison and southern Gallatin Ranges, the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone and the mountains around Cooke City:
The avalanche danger around Cooke City is deceiving. Fresh snow on top of a supportable slab is making travel easy, allowing skiers and riders to venture further into avalanche terrain. While conditions look and feel great – there is a significant problem lurking deep within the snowpack.
A thick slab resting over weak facets is making human triggered avalanches likely in the mountains around Cooke City. Photo GNFAC
This slide was triggered remotely from low on the hill. A thick slab resting over weak facets is making for tricky conditions in the mountains around Cooke City. Areas where the snowpack is thinner, mainly around rock outcroppings are likely trigger points. Photo GNFAC
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Fri Feb 3, 2012
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
The southern Madison and southern Gallatin Ranges, the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone and the mountains around Cooke City:
This avalanche broke on a weak layer of faceted snow crystals at the ground. This weak layer has been stressed by constant snowfall near Cooke City. Triggering avalanches on these deeply buried weak layers is difficult until you unintentionally find the sweet spot on the slope or under the slope. Photo: GNFAC
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Fri Feb 3, 2012
Arrows show the crown face of this avalanche that was triggered from flat terrain underneath this slope. Eric found the sweet spot where he initiated a fracture in the snowpack. The fracture propagated up and across the entire slope breaking at the ground 3-6 ft deep. Photo: GNFAC
GNFAC Avalanche Advisory for Thu Feb 2, 2012
Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion
The southern Madison and southern Gallatin Ranges, the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone and the mountains around Cooke City: