23-24

Henderson Avalanche

Date
Activity
Snowmobiling

Watched a large avalanche come down the big Avi path on the east side of Henderson.  The avalanche covered many snowmobile tracks from that afternoon.  The crown varied and extended for 1,000 feet below the summit ridge. It was a huge volume of snow that reached Fisher Creek. The snowmobilers were lucky, as it was large enough to be buried deep.  

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Henderson Mountain
Observer Name
Mike Carpenter

GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Mar 3, 2024

Snowpack and Avalanche Discussion

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Human triggered and natural avalanches are likely. Since Friday morning 2-3 feet of snow equal to 2.2” of </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://avalanche.org/avalanche-encyclopedia/snowpack/snowpack-observat… water equivalent</span></span></u></span></span></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span> (SWE) has fallen with a powerful storm happening this morning. Moderate to strong winds have drifted this snow into thicker slabs. Large avalanches breaking in the new snow are likely, and avalanches could break deeper and larger on weak layers at the bottom of the snowpack. Yesterday a skier triggered a 1-2’ deep slide in a steep chute north of Bridger (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31149"><span><span><span><strong><span…;). Avalanches will be deeper and wider today. Plan to stay out of avalanche terrain which includes slopes steeper than 30 degrees and flatter terrain below. Avalanche danger is HIGH.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Near Big Sky, Hyalite, Cooke City, Island Park and West Yellowstone, 1-3 feet of dense snow fell since Thursday (2.1-3.2" SWE), and up to 3-5 feet fell over the last week favoring Island Park and Cooke CIty. Yesterday, we issued an avalanche warning for Island Park which expired this morning, and near Cooke City there were many large natural and rider triggered avalanches (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/avalanche-activity"><span><span><span><stro… activity log</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/photos?field_advisory_region_target_id=28&a… page</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>). Riders watched an avalanche on Henderson Mtn. which broke 1000’ wide and ran far into the runout covering multiple fresh snowmobile tracks (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31157"><span><span><span><strong><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/avalanche-henderson-mountain-3"><…;). Ian and I rode in Tepee Basin and saw two recent avalanches that broke 1-2 feet deep (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byHpBRxx8J8&amp;list=PLXu5151nmAvSH326z…;). Avalanches were also seen in the northern Gallatin Range (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31154"><span><span><span><strong><span…;, </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/24/rider-triggered-new-snow-slab-030…;), Bacon Rind (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31132"><span><span><span><strong><span…;), and Lionhead (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/31112"><span><span><span><strong><span…;).</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today, large to very large avalanches can easily be triggered by skiers or riders. Natural avalanches are possible on slopes being loaded by wind-drifted snow. Avalanches could break beneath the new and wind-drifted snow, or over 3-6 feet deep on weak layers deeper in the snowpack. Dangerous avalanches conditions exist, and conservative terrain selection is essential. Plan to avoid steep slopes and runout zones below. Carefully evaluate terrain for the potential to avalanche. The avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

Upcoming Avalanche Education and Events

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Natural Avalanche in Divide Cirque

Divide Cirque
Northern Gallatin
Code
Latitude
45.39340
Longitude
-110.96900
Notes

Skies on 03/02/2024 observed several natural avalanches in Divide Cirque. This avalanche broke very wide connecting several paths. 

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

New Snow and Slab Avalanches in Cooke City

COOKE CITY
Cooke City
Code
Latitude
45.02020
Longitude
-109.93800
Notes

Guides at Beartooth Powder Guides saw numerous natural avalanches near Cooke City. They noted new snow avalanches on most slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Additionally, they saw several avalanches that broke several feet deep on east, southeast, and southwest-facing terrain. 

Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year

Cooke City Observations 03/02

Date
Activity
Skiing

Guides at Beartooth Powder Guides saw numerous natural avalanches near Cooke City. They noted new snow avalanches on most slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Additionally, they saw several avalanches that broke several feet deep on east, southeast, and southwest-facing terrain. 

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
COOKE CITY
Observer Name
Beartooth Powder Guides

Skier Triggered Avalanche in Hourglass

Hourglass Chute
Bridger Range
Code
SS-ASu-R2-D2
Elevation
8300
Aspect
NE
Latitude
45.83300
Longitude
-110.93800
Notes

From IG 3/2

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
2
D size
2
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year