24-25

Wind Slab Avalanches, Storm Castle Creek

Storm Castle
Northern Gallatin
Code
SS-R1-D1
Latitude
45.42340
Longitude
-111.12500
Notes

Sledded up storm castle. Spent the majority of the day skinning and skiing NE to NW aspects. Found debris from multiple R1-D1 wind slabs from earlier this week. Found widespread but inconsistent wind slabs (2"- 6" thick) at elevations 6700' to 8400'. Throughout the day cracking and collapsing was noticed multiple times on areas of stiffer snow. Snow quality changed dramatically from powder turns to thick wind crust with no visual surface difference.

Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
R size
1
D size
1
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Snow Observation Source
Touchy Wind Slabs
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
24-25

Wind Effected Snow North of Cooke

Date
Activity
Skiing

4-6’’ wind slabs cracking on test slopes on W aspects at upper elevations today

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
Henderson Mountain
Observer Name
Beartooth Powder Guides

Small wind slab avalanches in south cottonwood

Other place
Northern Gallatin
Code
SS-AS-R1-D1
Latitude
45.65530
Longitude
-110.55800
Notes

Toured up around Blackmore and s cottonwood. Found an extremely reactive windslab in the afternoon. It was thin, but easily triggered and would propagate about the width of each terrain feature (20-50ft). Each slab ran the length of the slope (150-200 ft). 

Number of slides
1
Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Soft slab avalanche
Trigger
Skier
R size
1
D size
1
Problem Type
Wind-Drifted Snow
Slab Thickness
4.0 inches
Vertical Fall
200ft
Slab Width
50.00ft
Images
Wind slab in south cottonwood 2
Wind slab in south cottonwood
Snow Observation Source
Wind slab in south cottonwood
Slab Thickness units
inches
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Single Avalanche
Advisory Year
24-25

Touchy Wind Slabs

Date
Activity
Skiing

Sledded up storm castle. Spent the majority of the day skinning and skiing NE to NW aspects. Found debris from multiple R1-D1 wind slabs from earlier this week. Found widespread but inconsistent wind slabs (2"- 6" thick) at elevations 6700' to 8400'. Throughout the day cracking and collapsing was noticed multiple times on areas of stiffer snow. Snow quality changed dramatically from powder turns to thick wind crust with no visual surface difference.

Region
Northern Gallatin
Location (from list)
Storm Castle
Observer Name
Spencer Lipsteuer

Cooke City, monitoring Feb. 3 dust/ facet layer

Date
Activity
Snowboarding

Recent snowpits attached from mid elevation E, and SE aspects near Cooke City.  

Of note, it appears that the Feb. 3 dust layer, perhaps has become weaker/ more faceted with the recent below 0F temps of the last 4 days.  Will continue to monitor this layer of concern as the weekend storm progresses.

Region
Cooke City
Location (from list)
COOKE CITY
Observer Name
B. Fredlund
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