Trip Planning for Cooke City Area

as of 5:00 am
Today0″ | 12-26 NW
Apr 5 0″ | 10-15 N
Apr 4 0″ | 5-15 N
10020′     04/06 at 10:00
21.5℉
N - 14mph
Gusts 17 mph
9100′     04/06 at 11:00
35℉
88″ Depth
Primary Problem: Loose Wet
Bottom Line: Today the two main avalanche problems you might encounter are wind slab avalanches and wet loose avalanches. Yesterday wind slabs were notably more reactive than expected, despite having had some time to stabilize since snowfall tapered off a couple days ago. Don’t trust old drifts today, and expect any fresh drifts to be easy to trigger. Expect the snow surface to get weaker through the day, especially on slopes that receive direct sunshine. Moist sticky snow or roller-balls on the surface mean it is time to find lower angle terrain or slopes with colder, dry snow on the surface. The sunshine and heat will also make cornice falls possible. Minimize your time on slopes below cornices and stay far back from the edge while travelling on ridgelines above them.

Past 5 Days

Wed Apr 2

Moderate
Thu Apr 3

Low
Fri Apr 4

Moderate
Sat Apr 5

Moderate
Today

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Cooke City
Henderson Mountain
Natural wind slabs and loose snow near Cooke
Incident details include images
Henderson Mountain
Coordinates: 45.0524, -109.9450
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

We saw a couple 3-6" deep natural wind slab avalanches and a few dry loose slides that looked to have happened within the last 24 hours. On southerly slopes below 9,000' there were some wet loose slides from yesterday afternoon.


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
Henderson Mountain
Reactive wind slabs near Cooke City
Incident details include images
Henderson Mountain
HS-AS-R1-D1-S
Elevation: 9,800
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 45.0524, -109.9450
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Wind slabs were still reactive today. We triggered 3 small, 3-8" deep x 5-15' wide, hard wind (1F+) slabs on convex test slopes well below the main ridgelines. 9,800', NE aspects. Also triggered one softer (4F) wind slab just below the high ridgeline, 10,200', NE aspect. 10-15' wide x 6-8" deep.


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
COOKE CITY
Wind Slab Avalanche Near Cooke
Incident details include images
COOKE CITY
SS-ASc-R1-D1-I
Elevation: 10,100
Aspect: N
Coordinates: 45.0202, -109.9380
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Wind slab near Cooke City from yesterday.  Intentionally triggered.  North aspect, 10,100'.  1' deep, 20' wide.

 


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • Apr 5 Wind slabs were still reactive. We triggered 3 small, 3-8" deep x 5-15' wide, hard wind (1F+) slabs on convex test slopes well below the main ridgelines. 9,800', NE aspects. Photo: GNFAC

  • Apr 5 Wind slabs were still reactive. We triggered 3 small, 3-8" deep x 5-15' wide, hard wind (1F+) slabs on convex test slopes well below the main ridgelines. 9,800', NE aspects. Also triggered one softer (4F) wind slab just below the high ridgeline, 10,200', NE aspect. 10-15' wide x 6-8" deep (Pictured). Photo: GNFAC

  • Apr 5 We saw a couple 3-6" deep natural wind slab avalanches and a few dry loose slides that looked to have happened within the last 24 hours. Photo: GNFAC

  • Wind slab near Cooke City from yesterday.  Intentionally triggered.  North aspect, 10,100'.  1' deep, 20' wide. Photo: B Fredlund

     

  • Skier took a left turn under cornices to scrub speed and released a 6-10" windslab 40' wide which ran 10' at most. Super soft and easy to ski through. Photo: J Lee

  • From email: "Ski touring near Cooke City today we intentionally triggered a storm slab/ wind slab on a steep north aspect around 9600'.  It was about 6" deep, and 30' wide." Photo: B Fredlund

  • Today we noticed these natural small wind slabs on Mt Henderson. Photo: J Mundt

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  • As we rode, we dug a few snowpits looking for the weak layer that we found yesterday buried about 2 feet deep. While we were able to find this layer, we only got propagation in one of three tests (ECTP 26, E aspect, 9070'). Photo: GNFAC

  • We noted one avalanche on the Fin that likely occurred yesterday or early this morning from a wind slab or cornice fall. Photo: GNFAC

  • Photo of a recent natural avalanche north of Cooke City, observed today (3/23/25).  A S, SE aspect in Sheep Creek at about 9000'.  Photo: B Fredlund

     

  • Today we saw a D2 slab avalanche at Goose Lake, E facing, 10800 ft. We estimate this avalanche to have ran in the early hours of 3/17. Photo: BPG

  • No fresh avalanche activity observed.  Attached is a photo of the only sign of a recent avalanche we could find.  (an old crown on an East aspect at 9600'). Photo: B Fredlund

     

  • Avalanche on the SE face of Scotch Bonnet in Tragenic Bowl and one on the NE face of Wolverine. They both broke 2-4’ deep. The avalanche on Wolverine slide aprx 1500’. Both were in wind loaded areas at upper elevations. Photo: BPG

  • "Today I triggered a D1 dry loose avalanche on a E facing 35 degree slope, 9300 ft on Mt Henderson. The new snow is very low density and is not bonding well to the old interface. I also observed some more dry loose activity/small wind slabs on Sheep Mt, NE facing, 10400 ft."

  • Near Cooke City on Mar 14 there was 6" of new snow and wind was calm, even along the ridge near regularly wind-loaded slopes, and there was no snow blowing off ridgelines. The photo shows a slope that normally receives a lot of wind effect, but the new snow is unaffected indicating the wind has been calm. Photo: GNFAC

  • Dug a pit on a northeast facing slope, 9300' (profile and pic attached) near Cooke City. Snow depth was 7-8 feet. 6" of new snow was right side up. Below the new snow was a soft (1F-) melt-freeze crust with soft decomposing and slightly faceted particles below. ECTN13 broke below the crust. Below that the snowpack was 1F to P+ hard and lacked weak layers. The Feb 4 dirt layer was clearly visible. Photo: GNFAC

  • Today I observed multiple small wind slab avalanches off Woody Ridge. NE and E facing, 10000 ft. Max size D1. Photo: BPG

  • Today I observed multiple small wind slab avalanches off Woody Ridge. NE and E facing, 10000 ft. Max size D1. Photo: BPG

  •  Many dry loose slides on Cooke Peak in Hayden Creek. Photo: BPG

  • We also witnessed a falling cornice today that washed some snow through rocks. Be aware of what's above you.

     

  • Above Goose Creek -hard, dense, strong, and deep snow. Facets from late January are 1F+ hardness

  • Fresh wind slab avalanche seen this afternoon, possibly rider triggered. Photo: N. Meyers

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

     

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Observing the snowpack that caused the avalanche. Photo: GNFAC

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Photo: GNFAC

     

  • An avalanche that was triggered two days ago (Feb 22), remotely from flat terrain above a steep slope, on the northeast end of Mt. Abundance. Photo: GNFAC

  • A rider triggered a small avalanche near Lulu Pass. No one was caught in the slide. Photo: N. Gaddy

  • A rider triggered a small avalanche near Lulu Pass. No one was caught in the slide. Photo: N. Gaddy

  • On Feb 23 We went up Republic Creek to look at the stability of snow that has fallen over the last 2-3 weeks. We were able to easily to trigger a couple wind slab avalanches on test slopes. Photo: GNFAC

  • On Feb 23 We went up Republic Creek to look at the stability of snow that has fallen over the last 2-3 weeks. We were able to easily to trigger a couple wind slab avalanches on test slopes. Photo: GNFAC

  • On Feb 23 We went up Republic Creek to look at the stability of snow that has fallen over the last 2-3 weeks. We found a thin layer buried 2’ deep that showed potential to propagate and slide. We dug down 4 feet, just below the dirt layer that was deposited earlier this month. We got an ECTP30 that broke about 8" above that dirt layer. This was either on a thin layer of facets or preserved lower density dendrites. Photo: GNFAC

Videos- Cooke City Area

WebCams


Soda Butte Lodge, looking West

Soda Butte Lodge, looking East

Snowpit Profiles- Cooke City Area

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Forecast Cooke City Area

Extended Forecast for

2 Miles NNE Cooke City MT

  • This Afternoon

    This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 44. West northwest wind around 8 mph.

    High: 44 °F

    Sunny

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 23. West wind around 6 mph.

    Low: 23 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Monday

    Monday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 47. West southwest wind 6 to 14 mph.

    High: 47 °F

    Increasing
    Clouds

  • Monday Night

    Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow showers after midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.  New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    Low: 32 °F

    Partly Cloudy
    then Chance
    Snow Showers

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: Snow showers. Some thunder is also possible.  High near 38. West southwest wind 10 to 20 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around 3 inches.

    High: 38 °F

    Snow Showers

  • Tuesday Night

    Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow showers.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. West wind 9 to 18 mph.  New snow accumulation of around 2 inches.

    Low: 24 °F

    Chance Snow
    Showers

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of snow showers.  Partly sunny, with a high near 37. West wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.  New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

    High: 37 °F

    Chance Snow
    Showers

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 21. West wind 13 to 18 mph decreasing to 6 to 11 mph after midnight.

    Low: 21 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 48. West southwest wind 6 to 10 mph.

    High: 48 °F

    Sunny

The Last Word

Hyalite Road Closure 

The Hyalite Canyon Road is closed to ALL MOTORIZED VEHICLES until the morning of May 16. This is a regular annual road closure to reduce road damage during the spring thaw. Bicycle and foot traffic are allowed. Contact the Bozeman FS Ranger District for more info.

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