22-23

Remote Triggered Avalanche, Mineral Mountain

Mineral Mountain
Cooke City
Code
SS-ASr-R4-D3-I
Elevation
9000
Latitude
45.03030
Longitude
-109.99800
Notes

From IG: “Wanted to touch base about an avalanche we triggered on the shoulder of Mineral Mountain today. While skinning up there was obvious wind loading coming from the south. I kicked around a bit near the edge of the ridge (no cornice) and remote triggered this slide from 20’ away. It broke 12-18” deep, and propagated 700-800’ wide. Ran full length of the slope into old growth trees 1200’ below. Would estimate R4 D3. We found good stable skiing on the south aspect (~35°)”

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
r-A remote avalanche released by the indicated trigger
R size
4
D size
3
Bed Surface
I - Interface between new and old snow
Problem Type
New Snow
Slab Thickness
16.0 inches
Vertical Fall
1200ft
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

From IG: “Wanted to touch base about an avalanche we triggered on the shoulder of Mineral Mountain today. While skinning up there was obvious wind loading coming from the south. I kicked around a bit near the edge of the ridge (no cornice) and remote triggered this slide from 20’ away. It broke 12-18” deep, and propagated 700-800’ wide. Ran full length of the slope into old growth trees 1200’ below. Would estimate R4 D3. We found good stable skiing on the south aspect (~35°)”

Cooke City, 2023-04-03

Large Whumpf in Beehive Basin

Beehive Basin
Northern Madison
Code
Elevation
9020
Aspect
W
Latitude
45.32140
Longitude
-111.38200
Notes

From obs: "Experienced a very large whumpf on the Middle Basin Ridge at Beehive.

We had just finished digging pits in the first large open section of the ridge and one of our skiers was jumping on the snow above the pit when there was a large whumpf. We guessed that the whumpf could have extended out to be about 100 m total(of course this is an estimate), but the point is that it was very large. One other group experienced two separate smaller whumpfs about 200 m away on a different section of the ridge.

The large whumpf occurred at approx. 9020 ft on a west aspect. 2 smaller whumpfs occurred at approx. 9030 ft on south/southwest aspects."

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

Remote Triggered Avalanche, Mineral Mountain

Date
Activity
Skiing

From IG: “Wanted to touch base about an avalanche we triggered on the shoulder of Mineral Mountain today. While skinning up there was obvious wind loading coming from the south. I kicked around a bit near the edge of the ridge (no cornice) and remote triggered this slide from 20’ away. It broke 12-18” deep, and propagated 700-800’ wide. Ran full length of the slope into old growth trees 1200’ below. Would estimate R4 D3. We found good stable skiing on the south aspect (~35°)”

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Mineral Mountain
Observer Name
Max Cohen

Large whumpf in Beehive Basin

Date
Activity
Skiing

Experienced a very large whumpf on the Middle Basin Ridge at Beehive.

We had just finished digging pits in the first large open section of the ridge and one of our skiers was jumping on the snow above the pit when there was a large whumpf. We guessed that the whumpf could have extended out to be about 100 m total(of course this is an estimate), but the point is that it was very large. One other group experienced two separate smaller whumpfs about 200 m away on a different section of the ridge.

The large whumpf occurred at approx. 9020 ft on a west aspect. 2 smaller whumpfs occurred at approx. 9030 ft on south/southwest aspects.

Region
Northern Madison
Location (from list)
Beehive Basin
Observer Name
Stella Johnson

We dug a pit to the ground (260cm) on the west wall in Beehive Basin to target observations for the Deep Slab problem. Attached is a SnowPilot graph of the layers, hardness, and grain identification. We performed a PST but did not get any results on the deeper facet layer, possibly due to the column not being fully isolated in the 260cm pit. 

Northern Madison, 2023-04-02

Recent Natural Avalanche near Cooke City

Republic Creek
Cooke City
Code
SS-N-R2-D2-I
Elevation
9200
Aspect
NW
Latitude
44.98550
Longitude
-109.94100
Notes

From Email:

"Observed a fresh natural avalanche this afternoon on Woody Ridge. The avalanche occurred on a NW aspect, around 9200' (likely last night). I'd estimate the size to be 1-3' deep, and about 100' wide. 

No other avalanche activity observed today.  (ski tour up Republic Creek this morning, low visibility while I was up there).

No collapsing. Minor cracking of the fresh, dense wind drifts, though they felt quite stubborn.

New snow:  about 10", dense/ rimed forms."

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
2
D size
2
Bed Surface
I - Interface between new and old snow
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
24.0 inches
Slab Width
100.00ft
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

Skiers in the Republic Creek drainage saw a fresh natural avalanche on Woody Ridge. The avalanche occurred on a NW aspect, around 9200' (likely last night). Estimated size: 1-3' deep and about 100' wide. Photo: B. Fredlund

Cooke City, 2023-04-02