Bearclaw bob 2

[bearclawbob]

Sunny skies

Good afternoon from Bearclaw and Cooke city. The snowman was right and we received an inch of fresh powder yesterday. Guys, I need a little help with a snow dance. The next amount of snow showing coming is next Wednesday. The temps are going to start warming up to the middle 30's by Sunday. We had 10 below last night.

AVLANCHE REPORT: We can ride safely in avalanche terrain on many slopes near Cooke City. The scary part is the possibility of triggering a large, deep slab avalanche, especially in places where the snowpack is relatively thinner. For this reason, it is important to watch your partners from a safe location and always be ready to perform a rescue even on slopes covered in tracks. Today the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE.

We'll I've sold out of AVY packs, but never fear, I've ordered more. I've got more helmets coming in at great prices. Stop in the store and check out every thing I carry.
I do work on all major sleds, but I specialize on ARCTIC CAT, with 17 years of knowledge. If your in search of a welder, I can help you out, with steel or aluminum.

Call the Super 8 if your looking for a room, but make sure you tell them when booking, you saw it on SNOWEST. You can save money. They've add over a 100 channels of Direct Tv in each room.

 

[bearclawbob]

SUNNY

Welcome to Bearclaw in Cooke city. We have to change the forecast to a 40 % chance of snow over the weekend. See guys, the snow dance does work, keep up the good work. We are at 5 below this morning and we will see a high in the mid 30's. To night a low in the lower teens and a high in the lower 20's tomorrow.

AVALANCHE REPORT: Cooke City

The snowpack near Cooke City had the same layer but it is now buried over 6 feet deep and no longer a problem on many slopes. Unfortunately it lingers on some slopes and can produce large avalanches in isolated areas like one that buried a snowmobiler a week ago.

The odds of triggering a similar avalanche have decreased each day during the last week. Slopes most likely to slide are ones with a relatively thinner snowpack like one that was triggered last Saturday above Sheep Creek. Today with this faceted layer lurking in a few areas the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE on wind loaded slopes and on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Slopes without a wind load and less than 35 degrees in steepness have a LOW avalanche danger.
Its great to see the danger coming down for our area.

If your looking to fill your AVY tank, we do it. The ABS tanks we do an exchange and the BCA and SNOWPULSE we can fill them.

Super 8 has a great program going on, if you tell them you saw it on SNOWEST, you can save, save lots of money. We have all put 5 rooms with HD flat screens ( with over 100 channels of Direct TV ) We have a big screen if your here during the Super Bowl, and we are adding Frig's and Microwaves slowly.

 

[bearclawbob]

Sunny

Good morning from Bearclaw in Cooke City. The snowman still is calling for snow tonight and tomorrow. We could see up to 5 inches by the time its all done. The temps this morning is 5 below and will reach into the mid 30's. Tonight will be in the single digits and in the mid 20's tomorrow.

AVALANCHE REPORT: The deepest and generally strongest snowpack exists near Cooke City where I’d feel the best about riding in avalanche terrain. We can still trigger avalanches and need to be prepared as a group was last Friday when they triggered a large slide, fully buried a rider, and saved his life. Be prepared like this group and practice with your rescue gear. Slopes with a relatively thinner snowpack are ones more likely to slide. Today the avalanche danger is MODERATE on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees and LOW on less steep slopes.

Looks like the weekend will be busy.

 

[hilpulr]

Bearclaw

Team WTF is coming Thursday the 30th - keep doing the snow dance for us Bob!!

 

[braapin]

March trip?

I live in Sandpoint, Id. And am looking at planning a trip in early march. Our snow has been horrible this year and is way below average. I haven't been to Cooke in probably 10 years. I was wondering how your snowpack is looking this year. It definitely seems like a lot of the weather is missing the inland northwest.

 

[bearclawbob]

cloudy and lightly snowing

Good morning from Bearclaw in Cooke city. The dance we did helped, we are at this time seeing light snow and cloudy skies. I think after the storm, we'll see approx. 3-5 inches, but the temps are going to fall, with a could front coming out of Canada. The temps at 5 am was 21, but has fallen to 13 and by tonight, 1 below. The high tomorrow will be 8 above with a low of 13 below. I sure hope it won't last as long as the last cold spell.

AVALANCHE REPORT: Cooke City continues turn the avalanche screw tighter. Yesterday, a snowmobiler triggered a large slide up Sheep Creek that broke 2-3 feet deep and close to 300 feet wide. The rider triggered the slide near the top of the slope, jumped off his sled and was able to self arrest before being swept away - his sled did not fare so well. The slope was steep, convex and rocky - the ideal location for popping loose an avalanche in these conditions.

Today will be no different. Slopes with a relatively thinner snowpack are ones more likely to slide. Look closely at the avalanche in this photo and notice how the snowpack tapers to bare ground not far above the crown. On more uniform slopes a generally strong and stable snowpack exists.

Today, the avalanche danger is MODERATE on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees and LOW on less steep slopes.

I would like to thank everyone that has comes or planning to come Cooke city, the town wouldn't be here with out you guys.

 

[bearclawbob]

not as cold

Good morning from Bearclaw in Cooke city. Woke up to find about 2 inches of powder in town and a report last night was the mountain received 5-6 inches. The temps are at 10 above with a low tonight of 15 below. I'm headed to town for supplies. I'll give you a better report tomorrow. Have a great week.

 

[bearclawbob]

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Good morning from Bearclaw in Cooke city. It wasn't a shock when I woke this morning to find 13 below. I was going to ask you guys to help with the snow dance, but by the snowmans forcast. We are in a winter storm warning from Wednesday to Thursday night. We are looking a a 100% chance of snow and heavy blowing snow at times. Stay tuned for more updates.

AVALANCHE REPORT: The mountains around Cooke City have a strong and deep (6-7’) snowpack on all but a few slopes. As riders and skiers push the boundaries in search of untracked powder they’ll inevitably find these unstable areas. Steep, rocky and thinly covered (less than three feet deep) slopes are where the problems lie. Riders on Saturday found one of these slopes in Sheep Creek when one person was caught, but not buried. The same avalanche concern exists today and the avalanche danger is rated MODERATE on all slopes steeper than 35-degrees and LOW on less steep terrain.

 

[bearclawbob]

UPDATE ON WEATHER

Good evening from Bearclaw in Cooke city. The snowman has changed his mind again for the accumulation of snow. He is stating we should see about 15 to 20 inches by the time its all over. More up dates to follow.

 

[bearclawbob]

snow and more snow

Good morning from Bearclaw in Cooke city. It dumped big time, 1.5 feet in town. The mountains received from 3-4 feet of fluffy powder. The snowman is calling for another foot by midnight tonight.

AVALANCHE REPORT: The situation today is pretty simple. 8-12 inches of heavy new snow fell since yesterday. This snow contained 1.2-1.8 inches of snow water equivalent (SWE) in the Bridger Range and 0.7-1.0 inches of SWE in other areas. Winds may calm today but were strong enough last night and this morning to transport the new snow. These winds mean that slopes with wind-blown snow may easily have double the load of new snow and will produce natural avalanches.

Another skier south of Cooke City found a 4-6 inch avalanche on a WNW aspect. This avalanche and these shooting cracks are early warning signs that more avalanches will occur today.

Avalanches can easily be 1-2 feet deep today, but can be 4-6 feet deep if they break on weak facets near the ground. These facets have been mostly dormant during the last week of dry weather but were producing many avalanches just over two weeks ago. They gained some strength during this time but the new snow will push them closer to their breaking point. These facets are weakest and most widespread in the mountains south of Bozeman, near Big Sky and near West Yellowstone. They are more isolated in the Bridger Range and near Cooke City.

Today heavy new snow, wind, and buried faceted layers will make the avalanche danger HIGH on wind loaded slopes steeper than 35 degrees where natural avalanches are likely and human triggered avalanches are very likely. All other slopes have a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger.

I'll try and do another report this afternoon, back to plowing snow.

 

[bearclawbob]

COLD

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Good morning from Bearclaw in Cooke city. Its lightly snowing and 11 below. The snowman is calling for below temps during the day and night till Friday.
With a chance of snow thru Sunday.

AVALANCHE REPORT: If you bundle up and head out you’re going to want to search for the same weak layer no matter what mountain range you travel in. During January’s spell of dry weather a layer of small-grained facets formed on the snow surface. It got buried six days ago and is now 1-2 feet down and is our primary avalanche concern. This weekend outside Cooke City Eric found these facets in his snowpits and skiers triggered a small slide on this layer too. This layer is easy to identify with a quick dig of a shovel. The stripe of facets is unmistakable. If you find it I would stay off of steeper slopes since there’s no sense tickling the avalanche dragon. If you don’t find it, I’d make double sure it’s absent before committing to a line.

The advisory would not be complete without mentioning the larger, depth hoar facets at the ground. These are now relegated to the number two position of avalanche concern. They are slowly getting stronger, but I’m not taking my eye off them. An avalanche initiated in the upper layer could easily step down to the ground on these weak, sugary grains.

For today, given the new snow and buried weak layers, the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees and MODERATE on all other terrain.

 

[bearclawbob]

Warmer

Good morning from Bearclaw in Cooke city. Found the temps to 30 degrees warmer this morning. The lower yesterday was 34 below with a high at 9 below. The snowman is calling for warmer days in the mid 20's with the lows at 0. But the better news is that we have a chance of snow thru Sunday at 80%. We could see each day with 4-5 inches of fresh powder.

AVALANCHE REPORT: Wind slabs. Even though there hasn’t been a major wind event to form widespread wind slabs, snow that fell about a week ago and more that fell early this week drifted in some areas forming wind slabs mostly near ridge tops.
Avalanches occurred on this layer in 5 out of the last 6 days. Several were near Cooke City, a few near West Yellowstone, one near Big Sky on Lone Mountain, and one near Bridger Bowl.
In general, we won’t remember this season for having a very stable snowpack. For this reason, assume every slope is guilty (i.e. unstable) until proven innocent with overwhelming evidence. Another factor to consider is that triggering a smaller slide may trigger a bigger one that breaks on facets near the ground. This layer is the weakest and most widespread south of Bozeman, near Big Sky and near West Yellowstone.

For today, the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on any wind-loaded slope or any slope steeper than 35 degrees. All other slopes have a MODERATE danger.

If your looking for a place to stay, remember the great SNOWEST discount that the super 8 gives. Call and check it out.

The biggest hit at the bakery this week was the breakfast burger.

Stop in and check out the video googles, I do have video's showing the great quality they take.

If your looking for experience working on sleds, (28 years) stop in and we can work on your sled. We work on all sleds and specialize on ARCTIC CAT.

 

[bearclawbob]

I'm back

Good afternoon from Bearclaw in Cooke city. I've been either plowing or working in the garage. The snowman, won't shut off the snow, it keep snowing and snowing and snowing. The forest service just issued a AVLANCHE WARNING for Cooke city. The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center is issuing a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING FOR THE MOUNTAINS AROUND COOKE CITY. Heavy snowfall and strong winds have created highly unstable conditions. Natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. THE AVALANCHE DANGER IS RATED HIGH in the mountains around Cooke city. Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Travel in avalanche terrain is NOT recommended and avalanche runout zones should be avoided.
Since last weekend, we've had 2.5 to 3 feet in town. I'll give you an update tomorrow after I finish plowing.

 

[bearclawbob]

Snow and Windy

Good morning from Bearclaw in Cooke city. We picked up another 3-4 inches over night and more to come. The snowman is calling for 3-4 inches each day for 4 days. The winds will be blowing out of the west 25-40 MPH. The AVALANCHE DANGER IS HIGH.

AVALANCHE REPORT: Not only have the mountains near Cooke City received a lot of snow and wind, but snow was falling at a rapid rate yesterday. A heavy load combined with rapid loading means avalanches are very likely. My partner and I remotely triggered a slide near the snowmobile entrance to Sheep Creek on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, a snowboarder just north of Round Lake triggered and was buried in an avalanche. Yesterday, visibility was limited but the snowpack gave us other clues of unstable conditions. There were small avalanches on road cuts and we could trigger little slides on small rollovers. Other sledders remotely triggered a small slide near Round Lake and saw another larger one nearby.

Heavy snowfall, strong winds, and recent avalanche activity are clear warning signs. Avoid any slope over 30 degrees, even very small ones like road cuts and avoid avalanche run out zones. Today both natural and human triggered avalanches are very likely and the avalanche danger is HIGH.

Don't forget the great deals on rooms at the Super 8 and don't forget to mention Snowest when you book a reservation. We now have over 100 channels plus ESPN and HBO.

We offer Sno Pro AVY packs along with ABS. We carry AVALANCHE EQUIPMENT for sale or rent.
We started this year working on sleds again. We work on all brands, specializing on ARCTIC CAT. We do carry parts for sleds.

 

[bearclawbob]

It just won't stop

Snow, snow, snow, that's what's its been doing for 2 weeks now. The last two days, we've see the temps in the mid 30's. The roofs are sliding in town, so this means that the slopes will slide just as easy. So everyone be on your toes.
The snowman's forecast is for more snow all week, with the temps in the mid 20's.

I would like to Thank everyone that has did business with us so far, if it wasn't for everyone supporting us, who knows. Another BIG Thank YOU>

AVALANCHE REPORT: The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center is re-issuing a Backcountry Avalanche Warning for the mountains around Cooke City. Relentless snowfall and strong winds have created highly unstable conditions. Natural avalanche activity is being reported this morning and human triggered avalanches are very likely. The avalanche danger is rated HIGH in the mountains around Cooke City. Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended and avalanche runout zones should be avoided.

The breakfast burger has been the best seller for the last week, followed by the French toast.

 

[bearclawbob]

SPECIAL RATE

Would like to offer everyone a Special rate at the Super 8 during the week. This would be from Monday to Thursday. Call Steve and he'll give you the best rate for the Snowest discount.

 

[bearclawbob]

Still lightly snowing

Good morning from Bearclaw and the Super 8. We are having light snow and temp's are in upper teens. The snowman is calling for another 4 inches of snow tonight. The forecast is calling for snow all week and by Friday night the temp's are dipping down below Zero. The AVLANCHE Center has extended the danger of Avalanche until tomorrow.

AVALANCHE REPORT: The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center is continuing a Backcountry Avalanche Warning for the mountains around Cooke City. Relentless snowfall and strong winds have created highly unstable conditions. Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist and both natural and human triggered avalanches are likely. Travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended and avalanche runout zones should be avoided. The avalanche danger is rated HIGH on all slopes in the mountains around Cooke City.

This warning will either be terminated or updated by 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 18.

The mountains around Cooke City have received a massive amount of snow over the past week. Fisher Creek Snotel site is recording 4” of SWE (snow water equivalent) over the past six days with higher amounts likely at upper elevations. Strong winds have been as consistent as the snowfall, which has been a major factor in elevating the avalanche danger.

From a lighter note, the riding has been great, It reminds me of the late 80's thru the 90's.

Yesterday, multiple natural avalanches were observed in the mountains around Cooke City (photo, video). One avalanche released on Town Hill dusting a few houses with a powder cloud. When slides are nearly reaching town you know conditions are bad.

Today, the snowpack will remain under a tremendous amount of stress. Until the snowpack gets some time to relax, I would avoid all avalanche terrain. This means steering clear of avalanche run out zones or any low angle slope attached to a larger steeper slope. Also, don’t underestimate the danger of small slopes. Unassuming terrain such as road cuts or small gullies have a nasty tendency of catching people off guard during these types of conditions.

 

[bearclawbob]

More Snow

Good morning from Bearclaw and Super 8 in Cooke city. I started writing yesterday and was pulled away to plow more snow. Well the forecast is calling for more snow until Tuesday, were we might see sun. We did see some sun yesterday after several blizzards went thru the area dumping 3-4 inches of snow. Temp's are ranging from 10 above to mid 20's. We picked up another 2-3 inches over night.
We had a power outage Tuesday for over 8 hours. Thanks to our generator we could remain with the lights on.

AVALANCHE REPORT: Winds have been strong in the mountains around Cooke City. At the Lulu Pass weather station, winds are gusting to 60 mph out of the southwest. Cooke City got firehosed with snow (4+” SWE) over the holiday weekend and Avalanche Warnings were in place through Monday. Wind-loaded slopes are where the acute avalanche danger lies and slopes that do not have windblown snow are only slightly better. Avalanches are breaking within the new snow and also on deeper layers of facets. What is important is not the exact location of the weak layer but the fact that avalanches are likely on slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Today’s snow and wind will keep the avalanche danger rating HIGH on any wind-loaded slope and CONSIDERABLE everywhere else.

Super 8 has a deal going on if you stay between Monday thru Thrusday you can save an additional amount of money. Call and make great deals with Steve. But don't forget to mention Snowest WHEN BOOKING or you won't get the discounts.

We are working on all makes of sleds, I specialize on ARCTIC CAT. We rent and sell AVALANCHE EQUIPMENT at great deals

 

[bearclawbob]

Plowing

I'm headed out to plow, we had strong winds last night with snow. I would guess we had another 3-4 inches over night.

 

[bearclawbob]

Still snowing

Good morning from Bearclaw and Super 8. We picked up another 3 inches of snow over night. The good thing is that the wind isn't blowing. It was a long day yesterday plowing, it made it hard because of all the drifting we had in town.
The snowman is still calling for snow until Wednesday, when we should see sun. We are in a winter storm watch starting Sunday morning till Tuesday. It covers the lower half of the state.

Good news is that they got the groomer up and running again.