23-24

Several naturals observed from the past few days. Large collapse on a NE 25 degree slope 

We choose to stay off slopes steeper than 30 degrees before leaving the town and heading south of Cooke City to West Woody Ridge. This decision was based on the recent and seasonal avalanche history in the area. There have been several large and dangerous human-triggered and natural avalanches and many other smaller slides failing on persistent weak layers. We stuck to our choice when we dug a snowpit and got stable test results (ECTX). Near the ridge and the starting zones of nearby avalanche paths, we triggered a large collapse that sent shooting cracks out a couple hundred feet. If the slope had been any steeper, we would have triggered an avalanche. Our conviction to stick to our plan kept us safe. We recommend that you make travel plans based on the big-picture indicators of INSTABILITY and ignore snowpits that indicate STABILITY. 

In town, we heard vague reports of what sounded like another large, rider-triggered avalanche occurring on the north side of Scotch Bonnet near a human-triggered avalanche that broke on Friday. We also heard a report of localized collapsing in the Goose Lake area. And the group described hearing a boom and a roaring sound that they believed was an avalanche but did not have the visibility to confirm. 

Toured west of Cole Creek outside RLM boundary.  Experienced multiple collapses and cracking.  Unsupportable surface with facets at the base of snowpack.  Stability tests resulted in multiple ECT with propagation. Dug pits in location with previous wind loading HS=141, not as deep on adjacent aspects.  

No natural avalanches observed.  See attached snowpilot profile.  

While transitioning at the top of mineral mountain burn, a member of our party stepped away from our packed out transition spot and likely the deeper impact from his ski boots triggered the weak layer beneath us and created a massive whumf that propagated hundreds of feet and was strong enough to knock snow off of nearby trees. Nothing we observed slid but the collapse was extremely evident. 

Very different feeling from 1 week prior - no collapsing, no cracking, no recent avalanches. We stayed on conservative terrain but saw others venturing out a bit with no noticable activity. 

 the snow is still bad! We were on top of bacon rind in the YNP, and dug a pit for fun and education of one of our party members. Experienced some BIG whoomphs on the way up and got very unstable scores. A Q2 CT19 and ECTP24, both around 85cm down into the snow pack (on the top of the very faceted layer we're seeing all over the advisory area. 

Best,

Joe