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This avalanche was triggered by a snowboarder who was able to get off the slab safely. It was a recently formed wind slab about 8-10 inches deep, but the notable thing is how wide it broke. It failed on a thin layer of small facets formed during recent cold clear nights and warm sunny days. Photo: GNFAC

Personnel from the USFS and USGS performing a snow chemistry survey found several ice cursts and faceted layers on a S and SW facing slope on Tuesday, March 3 near Daisy Pass just north of Cooke City. Photo: J. Zimmer

This avalanche was triggered by a snowboarder who was able to get off the slab safely. It was a recently formed wind slab about 8-10 inches deep, but the notable thing is how wide it broke which indicates it may have been sitting on a layer of small facets. It occurred on a S aspect near 9700 feet in elevation. Photo: J Losier

These thin wind slabs released from the ridge top naturally.  They ran far because they were likely capping a weak layer of near-surface facets that were resting on a firm bed surface. Photo: GNFAC

Around Cooke City skiers reported small slabs breaking under the new snow.  This is a picture from one of them that was triggered on Sunday, March 1. These are small and thin, but can still knock you off balance. Photo: E. Wolfe