22-23

Large wind slabs on multiple aspects

Date
Activity
Skiing

Today we toured to a ridge across from the west face of Republic Mountain. We observed multiple natural avalanches on several aspects. Winds were calm until around noon, and then picked up in the afternoon and were heavily loading north aspects at this location. 

Region
Cooke City
Observer Name
Erich Schreier

Miller Mountain

Date
Activity
Skiing

On Saturday we toured up Sheep Creek and dug a pit on an SW aspect of Miller Mountain. We observed that the wind slab easily failed and propagated at this location. Shifting winds continued to load multiple aspects throughout the day. On the southwest ridge of Mineral Mountain we observed a large slide, approximately 200ft wide, that appeared to trigger another slide lower down on the slope. 

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Miller Mtn.
Observer Name
Erich Schreier

Two skiers caught on town hill, Cooke

Miller Mtn.
Cooke City
Code
HS-ASu-R3-D2-O
Elevation
8150
Aspect
SE
Latitude
45.02460
Longitude
-109.93200
Notes

We triggered and were caught in an avalanche very near town.  We skied the east side of Miller,  dropped down to descend the very eastern slope just above town. While standing on approximately a 30-35 degree slope we experienced a release immediately above us.  The crown line was approximately 18-24" and extended appx 50' across. We were caught for about 150' before coming to a stop and buried to the thigh. The entire slide was appx 400' from top to bottom.  It was appx a D2.

Number of slides
1
Number caught
2
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Hard slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
3
D size
2
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
24.0 inches
Vertical Fall
400ft
Slab Width
50.00ft
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year

From obs 2/26/23: "We triggered and were caught in an avalanche very near town.  We skied the east side of Miller,  dropped down to descend the very eastern slope just above town. While standing on approximately a 30-35 degree slope we experienced a release immediately above us.  The crown line was approximately 18-24" and extended appx 50' across. We were caught for about 150' before coming to a stop and buried to the thigh. The entire slide was appx 400' from top to bottom.  It was appx a D2." 

Cooke City, 2023-02-26

From obs 2/26/23: "We triggered and were caught in an avalanche very near town.  We skied the east side of Miller,  dropped down to descend the very eastern slope just above town. While standing on approximately a 30-35 degree slope we experienced a release immediately above us.  The crown line was approximately 18-24" and extended appx 50' across. We were caught for about 150' before coming to a stop and buried to the thigh. The entire slide was appx 400' from top to bottom.  It was appx a D2." 

Cooke City, 2023-02-26

From obs 2/26/23: "We triggered and were caught in an avalanche very near town.  We skied the east side of Miller,  dropped down to descend the very eastern slope just above town. While standing on approximately a 30-35 degree slope we experienced a release immediately above us.  The crown line was approximately 18-24" and extended appx 50' across. We were caught for about 150' before coming to a stop and buried to the thigh. The entire slide was appx 400' from top to bottom.  It was appx a D2." 

Cooke City, 2023-02-26

From obs 2/26/23: "We triggered and were caught in an avalanche very near town.  We skied the east side of Miller,  dropped down to descend the very eastern slope just above town. While standing on approximately a 30-35 degree slope we experienced a release immediately above us.  The crown line was approximately 18-24" and extended appx 50' across. We were caught for about 150' before coming to a stop and buried to the thigh. The entire slide was appx 400' from top to bottom.  It was appx a D2." 

Cooke City, 2023-02-26

Two skiers caught

Date
Activity
Skiing

We triggered and were caught in an avalanche very near town.  We skied the east side of Miller,  dropped down to descend the very eastern slope just above town. While standing on approximately a 30-35 degree slope we experienced a release immediately above us.  The crown line was approximately 18-24" and extended appx 50' across. We were caught for about 150' before coming to a stop and buried to the thigh. The entire slide was appx 400' from top to bottom.  It was appx a D2.

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Miller Mtn.

Rider partially buried on Abundance

Mount Abundance
Cooke City
Code
AMu-R3-D2-O
Elevation
9500
Aspect
E
Latitude
45.07730
Longitude
-110.02100
Notes

From email 2/26/23: "I just talked with a fella that reported his buddy was buried up to his chest in an avalanche yesterday off of east abundance, near the cliffs. He reported a 4' crown and 200' wide. His buddy was snowmobiling."

Number of slides
1
Number caught
1
Number buried
1
Trigger
Snowmobile
Trigger Modifier
u-An unintentional release
R size
3
D size
2
Bed Surface
O - Old snow
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
40.0 inches
Vertical Fall
250ft
Slab Width
100.00ft
Snow Observation Source
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year