23-24

Large Collapses Sheep Creek, Cooke City

Sheep Creek
Cooke City
Code
Latitude
45.02980
Longitude
-109.96900
Notes

From obs: "Probably heard the largest whumph i ever personally heard while skiing near the ridge on the Burn at Sheep Creek. Other groups also reported hearing whumphs too. While skinning out of sheep on a southern aspect we started seeing signs of warming with little pinwheels but none grew big and none were natural."

From another group: "...A few whomps were heard/felt skiing without any propagation or slides on the slope we skied... 
we did talk to the group of 3/4. Earlier in the day, they had skinned further up the drainage and climbed up a  west facing rib of Miller proper. On the first steeper slope while skinning up they experienced large snow settling and bailed."

Number of slides
0
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Snow Observation Source
Significant whomping at Sheep Creek Burn
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Red Flag
Advisory Year
23-24

New Snow and recent avalanches at taylor fork

Date
Activity
Snowmobiling

Bozeman Snow Rangers patrolled Taylor Fork, arriving to 120 rigs in the parking lot. Lots of people stoked for a Blue bird powder day. New storm snow seemed to total ~16 inches up high. We saw numerous recent slab avalanches, some large; and parties reporting widespread collapsing. We observed large natural avalanches from afar on the west side of Snowslide Mountain, and the east aspect of a peak south of Woodward Mountain. We observed these from a few miles away and were probably several feet deep and a few hundred feet wide. We observed another, probably rider triggered avalanche in Wapiti Creek that broke on old snow near the ground ~2 feet deep and ~60ft across.

Temps were ~10F. winds were calm. Sunny.

Region
Southern Madison
Location (from list)
Taylor Fork
Observer Name
Sandy Jett

Avalanches North of Cooke City

Date
Activity
Skiing

please keep location secret 
 

Saw the avalanches today on Sawtooth from the top of the Goose Bump. Look to be within the new snow from last week. This was the only recent activity I saw out there today. 

Region
Cooke City
Observer Name
Jake Mundt

Wind slabs at Bradley’s

Date
Activity
Snowboarding

Some cracks but not shooting.

Slabs growing at top of Bradley’s meadow, around 15-25cm in thickness.

East winds did a number and grew slabs in non-typical locations. 

Region
Bridger Range
Location (from list)
Bradley Meadow
Observer Name
Zach bailey

Cedar Mtn obs

Date
Activity
Snowmobiling

From IG 2/17: “Out on the cedar/ bear creek wilderness line. 12'x200' and probably 6'x400' on the one in the trees. Both remote triggered. We watched em both come down.”

Region
Northern Madison
Location (from list)
Cedar Mtn.

Significant whomping at Sheep Creek Burn

Date
Activity
Skiing

Probably heard the largest whumph i ever personally heard while skiing near the ridge on the Burn at Sheep Creek. Other groups also reported hearing whumphs too.

 

while skinning out of sheep on a southern aspect we started seeing signs of warming with little pinwheels but none grew big and none were natural.

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Sheep Creek

Natural avalanches on Henderson Ridge and Sheep Mtn.

COOKE CITY
Cooke City
Code
HS-N-R2-D2-O
Elevation
10000
Aspect
NE
Aspect Range
NE, SW
Latitude
45.02020
Longitude
-109.93800
Notes

On 1/29/24 On Henderson Bench we could see 2 new avalanches that looked fresh, possibly cornice triggered. It was not windy, so windloading was not the trigger. Regardless, it was disconcerting. Across the Fisher Creek valley we could see a slide on the nose of Sheep Mountain on the same slope that killed a snowmobiler in 2015.

Number of slides
3
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Hard slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
2
D size
2
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness
22.0 inches
Vertical Fall
250ft
Slab Width
150.00ft
Images
2 avalanches on Henderson Ridge
Closeup of avalanche on Henderson ridge
2 natural avalanches on Henderson ridge
An avalanche on the nose of Sheep Mtn
Three avalanches on Henderson peak and ridge
Two natural avalanches on Henderson Bench
Snow Observation Source
Recent avalanches, collapses, instability
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
23-24

Many natural avalanches at Lionhead

Lionhead Ridge
Lionhead Range
Code
N-R3-D2
Elevation
9100
Aspect Range
N, S, E, W
Latitude
44.71450
Longitude
-111.31800
Notes

On 2/16/24 We rode up Denny Creek below Lionhead Ridge, then around to the north, through Watkins Creek and into the top of Targhee Creek. We saw a lot of old and recent avalanches that happened at various times over the last week, and in a wide variety of terrain. On lower elevation, generally non-wind-loaded terrain in the trees we saw at least 4 avalanches that were at least 2' deep and over 100' wide. Near ridgelines there were many avalanches, harder slabs, 2' deep breaking hundreds of feet wide.

Number of slides
6
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
3
D size
2
Problem Type
Persistent Weak Layer
Slab Thickness
24.0 inches
Slab Width
150.00ft
Images
Old crown in Watkins Creek
Natural avalanche - Denny Creek
Snow Observation Source
Fresh avalanche and many recent avalanches
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
23-24

On 2/16/24 we saw a lot of old and recent avalanches that happened at various times over the last week, and in a wide variety of terrain. On lower elevation, generally non-wind-loaded terrain in the trees we saw at least 4 avalanches that were 1-2' deep and at least 100' wide. Near ridgelines there were many avalanches, harder slabs, at least 1-2' deep breaking hundreds of feet wide. Photo: GNFAC

Avalanche Details: Many natural avalanches at Lionhead
Lionhead Range, 2024-02-17
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    • On 2/16/24 we saw a lot of old and recent avalanches that happened at various times over the last week, and in a wide variety of terrain. On lower elevation, generally non-wind-loaded terrain in the trees we saw at least 4 avalanches that were 1-2' deep and at least 100' wide. Near ridgelines there were many avalanches, harder slabs, at least 1-2' deep breaking hundreds of feet wide. Photo: GNFAC

    Avalanche Details: Many natural avalanches at Lionhead
    Lionhead Range, 2024-02-17
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