Bearclaw Bob's, second posting

[bearclawbob]

Morning from Cooke city. The first thing I'm going to say, Our prayers go out to your family. He was a good friend, I'll miss him.

Work up to around 6 inches of fresh snow this morning. The snowman is calling for a chance of snow today and it will be in the mid 20's.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS:
AVALANCHE AWARENESS COURSE. THIS IS A 1 HOUR COURSE THAT IS GIVEN BY THE FRIENDS OF THE AVALANCHE CENTER. IT IS ON DECEMBER 23RD 2015 AT 6 PM

AVALANCHE WARNING

The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center is continuing a Backcountry Avalanche Warning for the mountains near Cooke City, the Madison Range, the Gallatin Range, the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone, and the Bridger Range. Continuous snowfall and strong winds have added weight and stress to a weak and unstable snowpack. Natural and human triggered slides are likely today. Avalanche terrain including avalanche runout zones should be avoided. The avalanche danger is rated HIGH on all slopes.

AVALANCHE FATALITY

The GNFAC is sad to report that a snowmobiler from North Dakota died in an avalanche yesterday outside of Cooke City. The avalanche occurred on the SE face of Sheep Mountain between Lulu Pass and Round Lake. The slide was triggered by the victim who was buried six feet deep under his sled. The victim had an airbag but was unable to deploy it. The slide also caught two other party members who were parked in the run out zone. One was buried to his chest while the other was completely buried. They both deployed their air bags and escaped relatively unharmed. Our deepest condolences go out to the victim’s family and friends.

Doug and Alex will visit the accident site today. We’ll provide a more detailed report once we gather more information.

 

[Robgrover]

Hey bob.

What kind of sleds do you rent there, I am not having any luck with your website.

 

[trenchking]

He has Doo Poo & Cat

 

[bearclawbob]

Light snow

Morning from Bearclaw/Bakery and the Super 8 motel. I myself and the Super 8 motel prints off a avalanche report each morning. Like I said before, I have a sign that's 4x8 showing the conditions of each day out on the front of my building.
The snowman is calling for up to 5 inches by tomorrow and gusts up to 45. So wind loading will be a factor tomorrow.

I have two 2016 Ski doo's, one 2016 cat, one 2015 cat and a older assault.

AVALANCHE CONDITION: These avalanches all have one thing in common - they're all failing on weak facets near the ground. This persistent weak layer is widespread and will continue to produce unstable conditions. As more snow falls today and tomorrow, additional stress will keep this layer highly reactive. Managing terrain will be critical for safe backcountry travel today. Avoid all slopes steeper than 30 degrees as well as low angle slopes attached to larger, steeper slopes above. Triggering slopes from the bottom or from a distance is a real possibility today.

Today, natural and human triggered avalanches are likely on wind loaded slopes and slopes steeper than 35 degrees which have a HIGH avalanche danger. Less steep, non-wind loaded slopes have a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger.

 

[bearclawbob]

Light snow

Morning from Bearclaw/Bakery and the Super 8 motel. I myself and the Super 8 motel prints off a avalanche report each morning. Like I said before, I have a sign that's 4x8 showing the conditions of each day out on the front of my building.
The snowman is calling for up to 5 inches by tomorrow and gusts up to 45. So wind loading will be a factor tomorrow.

I have two 2016 Ski doo's, one 2016 cat, one 2015 cat and a older assault.

AVALANCHE CONDITION: These avalanches all have one thing in common - they're all failing on weak facets near the ground. This persistent weak layer is widespread and will continue to produce unstable conditions. As more snow falls today and tomorrow, additional stress will keep this layer highly reactive. Managing terrain will be critical for safe backcountry travel today. Avoid all slopes steeper than 30 degrees as well as low angle slopes attached to larger, steeper slopes above. Triggering slopes from the bottom or from a distance is a real possibility today.

Today, natural and human triggered avalanches are likely on wind loaded slopes and slopes steeper than 35 degrees which have a HIGH avalanche danger. Less steep, non-wind loaded slopes have a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger.

 

[bearclawbob]

Light dusting

Morning from Bearclaw/bakery and the Super 8. Woke up to a light dusting this morning. The snowman is calling for a couple more inches today. Looks like today will be the best day until Sunday. The temp's are going to fall down below zero tonight. By Friday night we could see 15 below.

AVALANCHE CONDTIONS: Over the last week we had natural and human triggered slides in every mountain range. An avalanche fatality outside Cooke City on Saturday was a sad reminder that when the snowpack is very unstable people can trigger avalanches from low-angled terrain, even the flats, if the slope is connected to steeper terrain.

The snowpack is unstable and weak. Traveling in avalanche terrain is dangerous and requires careful route-finding and snowpack assessment; without these skills you will likely trigger an avalanche. For today, the danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes throughout our forecast area.

One more day until Christmas, sure hope everyone has their presents bought. Its a mad house at all the stores. I found that out the hard way yesterday.

If your going to book at the Super 8 make sure you mention Snowest discount when booking, or you won't get it later.

I've gotten more Avy bags in if your looking for one. I carry the Snowpulse (Highmark pro) and BCA ( float 22).

The garage is open to work on your sleds or store your sled over night.

 

[bearclawbob]

Light dusting

Morning to everyone and its Christmas eve. Woke up to 3 above with light snow. We could still see a couple of inches of white fluffy snow today and tonight. The snowman is still calling for below ZERO temp's for the next two nights.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: Avalanches on weak faceted snow have occurred naturally and have been triggered after light snowfall and moderate wind. It has not taken much to tip the scales. The dump that Avalanche Santa Lee promised has gradually been delivered over the last two weeks. This snow has formed a slab and added weight to a weak snowpack to create dangerous avalanche conditions. As the snowpack gets deeper it may become more difficult to trigger an avalanche, but the consequences are higher.

Careful route-finding and snowpack assessment are required if you plan to travel in avalanche terrain. Human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches remain possible. Today, the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes throughout our forecast area.

 

[bearclawbob]

Merry Christmas

Morning and Merry Christmas from Bearclaw/Bakery and the Super 8
Again woke up to a light dusting, The temp's didn't drop down below zero. The snowman is still calling for sub zero temp's tonight with a slight chance of light snow today.

I hope everyone woke up to a wonderful Christmas. Did Santa bring you what yo wanted?

AVALANCHE CONDTIONS: In some areas we have found that it is getting more difficult to initiate a fracture in stability tests. This does not indicate better stability. We still have all the ingredients required to trigger an avalanche, as Eric found on Mt. Ellis yesterday. It may be more difficult to trigger an avalanche as the snowpack gets deeper, but the consequences are higher. Areas of stronger snow have been found, which means there is more variability and stability assessments can be tricky.

Careful route-finding and snowpack assessment are required if you plan to travel in the backcountry. Human triggered avalanches remain likely today, and the avalanche danger is CONSIDERABLE on all slopes throughout our forecast area. Have a safe and happy Christmas.

 

[bearclawbob]

Sunny

Afternoon from Bearclaw/Bakery and the Super 8. Woke up to 15 below and not to many went out early today to ride. The snowman is calling for below Zero temp's tonight. No snow in the forcast for at least 4 days, with sun.
Four of us went to the top of the world yesterday. Not a lot of snow. You had to be careful not to hit rocks. Other then that it was a good trip. OH forgot to mention, lots of places had NO bottom, I even got stuck.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: The snowpack still holds all the necessary ingredients to produce an avalanche and dangerous conditions still exist. It does remain possible to trigger avalanches from low on the slope and from a distance. Read a recent story of two snowmobilers in Wyoming who were caught while sitting in an avalanche run out zone. The avalanche fatality last Saturday in Cooke City was also the result of triggering a slide from low on the slope.

Today, dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Human triggered avalanches are likely and the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes throughout our forecast area.

I've got most of my rentals out for the week. I do have a couple left. Save money and check out my prices before you rent.

 

[bearclawbob]

Snow

Morning from Bearclaw/Bakery and the Super 8 motel. Woke up to overcast skies and a 80% chance today and tonight for snow. Maybe 2 inches total. The temp's will reach the mid teen's and back down to Zero tonight.

It was nice to have Monday off.
Just to let everyone know that the Bakery is open. Hope to see you in in there.

If you need parts for Arctic cat I might just have it. Even for the 2016 cats. Come work on your sleds in a heated garage or store them over night.

AVALANCHE CONDTIONS:The snowpack is no longer hair-trigger. People are boldly venturing onto big, steep slopes with their sleds and skis. Cooke City has more human-triggers per square mile than any other piece of real estate on the forest and I expect we’ll hear of a corresponding number of avalanches too. The other ranges are not immune, yet the stoke of powder is a sirens’ song luring folks into unstable avalanche terrain. For today, the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees since triggering slides is likely. Slopes less than 35 degrees are rated MODERATE and a scary moderate at that! Be certain that lower angled terrain is not attached to steeper slopes. This recipe killed a snowmobiler 10 days ago.

 

[bearclawbob]

Its snowing lightly

Morning from snow packed Cooke City. The town is busy along with the bakery. The weather system is down this morning. At this time its lightly snowing and we picked up about an inch over night.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: Eric, Alex and I are in agreement: we are traveling in the backcountry very conservatively because it is likely we could trigger an avalanche. For today, the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees and MODERATE on less steep. “Moderate” means human-triggered avalanches are possible. If you are unlucky enough to trigger one, it may be deep and big like the slides on Mt. Fox and Henderson Mountain over the weekend.

The french toast was the number one hit yesterday and it looks like its going to be that way today.

The garage has been staying busy from people hitting things. Don't forget that I carry a lot of parts for sleds. Stop in and check me out.

 

[bearclawbob]

Happy New Years

Its New Years EVE. Don't drink to much, I want you to make it back home. Yes I'm giving you fatherly advise.
This morning it was 15 below and it reached in the lower single digits. The snowman is calling for sunny days and warmer by Wednesday. We all need to get together again and start the snow dance. So Lets start it this weekend.

I would like to say HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone and be safe this weekend.


AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: The good news is that there is only one weak layer that we have to look for. Without obvious signs of instability you have to do your homework and dig a snowpit to look for this weak layer. I would avoid travelling on steep slopes where this weak layer exists. Many experienced backcountry travelers have avoided steep slopes and found good skiing and riding elsewhere like Doug and his partner did on Sunday near Hebgen Lake. Depth hoar is scary stuff and cannot be trusted. This weekend, the sun will shine and skiing and riding will be great. As more tracks are placed on slopes, it will become more likely that someone will find a shallow area and trigger an avalanche. It’s like Russian roulette.

For today, the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees and MODERATE on less steep slopes. “Moderate” means human-triggered avalanches are possible. If you are unlucky enough to trigger one, it may be large and deep.

 

[bearclawbob]

Mostly Sunny

BURRRRRRRRRRRR COLD. This morning it was 21 below. The snowman is calling for warmer temp's for the up coming week. We will see mid 20's to low's in the single digits. We need to get the snow dance started again. Most of the areas are tracked up. Watch the spider and learn the snow dance with him.

The bakery is really busy along with the garage and over night storage.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: Evidence of human triggered slides under these conditions can be scarce because people are being conservative and avoiding steep terrain. Without a trigger we will not see avalanches and start to feel more comfortable with the stability. The snowpack structure is unstable throughout the advisory area, and I would not trust it. All it takes is finding the right spot to trigger an avalanche that could easily be large enough to bury or injure a person. Without obvious signs of instability you have to dig a snowpit to look for the depth hoar at the ground, or assume that it is there. Many experienced backcountry travelers have avoided steep slopes and found good skiing and riding elsewhere. If you do venture onto steeper slopes, only expose one person at a time to avalanche terrain and carry rescue gear.

For today, the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees and MODERATE on less steep slopes.

 

[bearclawbob]

Warmer

This morning we saw warmer temp's. Yes we did, 14 below. The snowman is now calling for lower 30's for this next week and lows in the single digits. I hope it will warm up. By Friday we might, I say we might see a light dusting.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: Obvious signs of instability are scarce, partly because people are being conservative and avoiding steep terrain. When we don’t see avalanches or get collapsing and cracking of the snowpack we feel more comfortable with the stability. Without obvious signs of instability you have to dig a snowpit to look for the depth hoar at the ground, or assume that it is there. Avalanches are becoming less likely and more difficult to trigger, but human triggered avalanches are still possible.

If you trigger an avalanche it could be deep and large, so for today the avalanche danger is rated CONSIDERABLE on all slopes steeper than 35 degrees and MODERATE on less steep slopes.

This holiday is about over for every one. I hope every one has a good weekend so far.

 

[bearclawbob]

power outage

Power was out at 10pm last night and didn't come back on until 11:15 am. It was 2 below this morning and the snowman is still showing mid 30's until Friday. Then we might see a chance of snow for both Friday and Saturday.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: A secondary concern today will be wind slabs formed by south-southwest winds. This problem will be confined to upper elevation, leeward slopes. Watch out for thick, rounded wind drifts and avoid steeper terrain where these features are present.

Today, heightened avalanche conditions exist on specific terrain features. For this reason, human triggered avalanches are possible and the avalanche danger is rate MODERATE.

 

[jmom]

Where is the snow....

Despite the heavily tracked areas after the holiday weekend, we have found some patches of fresh snow. Enjoying the hospitality at Bearclaw Bobs and the deliciousness of the Terri's great cooking at the Bearclaw Bakery

Here are a few pictures from yesterday.

 

[bearclawbob]

Its snowing lightly

Morning from Bearclaw/Bakery and the Super 8. It has started lightly snowing. The snowman is calling for a chance of snow today and tonight. Thursday we have a 60% chance of snow. Here is a picture of the snow. Keep the snow dance going.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: The last human triggered avalanche was only four days ago in Cooke City. The snowpack here is very similar to the rest of our forecast area, so what goes on there is relevant to all backcountry travelers. Warnings of instability include these avalanches in Cooke City, slides on Yellow Mountain near Big Sky and Mount Blackmore, along with cracking and collapsing in the southern Gallatin Range. The danger level is rated MODERATE on all slopes throughout our advisory area since avalanches are still possible.

I'm out of BCA radio's, but have more coming. I do have extra tanks for BCA and Snowpulse avy packs. Need a fill, I do that also.

The Big Breakfast was the hit of the day at the bakery.

 

[bearclawbob]

Keep dancing

Morning from the little town of Cooke city. Hello from Bearclaw/Bakery and the Super 8. We picked up an inch over night. The snowman is calling for a chance today and for Thursday an inch.
Lost was found in a creek and yes they had gotten stuck. They had a good fire going and they had plenty of snacks and water.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS:Unlike today’s wind slabs, which can be found near the ridgelines and avoided, a weak layer of depth hoar crystals at the ground are not so easily dismissed. These big, sugary grains underlie our snowpack and avalanched both naturally and with human triggers over Christmas and New Year’s, documented on our Photos page. The good news is that this layer is slowly gaining strength and becoming harder to trigger. The bad news is that this depth hoar will linger for weeks, maybe months, potentially avalanching from the weight of an unlucky skier or rider. The likelihood of triggering avalanches has decreased, but not gone. Trigger points are typically found on thinner areas of the snowpack, sometimes near buried rock outcroppings or on the edges of a slope, but they are not obvious.

The danger level is rated MODERATE on all slopes throughout our advisory area since wind slabs can be easily triggered and deeper avalanches running at the ground are still possible.

I keep getting asked if we fill Avy packs. WE do and the following brands we do are , Snow Pulse, BCA, and exchange ABS tanks.

 

[jmom]

We have had an adventuresome couple of days out on the mountain here in Cooke.

A night search and a pre sunrise rescue.

I took a day off from riding with my buds. Glad I asked where they were headed. I wish I could have reached them before nightfall but, they were relieved to see me before day break this morning.Was I worried yes. I knew where they were headed. Did I know where they were at, no not for certain. The weather was in the 20s and only a light dusting of snow was coming. I saddled up at dusk when they did not return for the day, searching the area. We searched from the ridges trying to get radio contact until 10 pm. I know these guys are prepared, that is why we ride together. At 5:30 am four of us flew up the trails and boondocked to the far boundaries of the area, down a steep ravine. I found 2 tracks heading down a narrow creek bed, just where I thought they would be. I told the guys, it gets dicey from here, we have to wait for light to get in the steep ravine with open water and huge boulders. I was convinced their radios were dead since we did not get any response the night prior. I tried the radio and we made contact, because they had spare batteries. We confirmed that they were both ok and sent two guys back to town to call of the other searching parties. We hiked down the ravine, they were only about 150 yards down from where I stopped. They never heard our sleds. When I saw my buds, tears of joy. We joined the camp fire. Gave them food and powerade, then we listened to the tail. Once the sun rose we assessed the situation, dug out, and rode into town for some breakfast. Two very capable riders who were prepared. One sled was on the cusp of getting them out, but at 8 pm in the mountains they were feeling exhausted and made the right decision. They started a fire, dried out and waited for daylight.

[/IMG]

 

[bearclawbob]

dance,dance,dance

Its another morning in Cooke city with Bearclaw/ Bakery and the Super 8 motel. Woke up to a trace of snow. The snowman is still calling for a couple of inches today and tomorrow. The bad thing it looks like the sub zero temp's will return Saturday night.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: Another problem is wind slabs that formed earlier this week. The Big Sky ski patrol reported that these slabs were less reactive yesterday. However, they should be avoided in the backcountry where they may rest over weak faceted snow near the surface like Doug and Eric observed in Lionhead on Sunday. These slabs can be identified as smooth chalky pillows near ridgelines and on leeward slopes, and should be avoided. They could bury or injure a person, or trigger a larger avalanche deeper in the snowpack.

Wind slabs and buried depth hoar make human triggered avalanches possible. The avalanche danger today is rated MODERATE on all slopes throughout our advisory area.

Its sad when a business doesn't tell the truth when asked questions about the town and who and what is here and the snow conditions. It only hurts themselves and the town.

Now for the better news. I've been busy with rentals and the shop. The bakery on the other hand has been swamped and still the French Toast has been the best seller.
If you are booking a room at the Super 8 motel. You must tell them about the SNOWEST discount. YOU can save money.

I would like to thank MOM"S motorsports for staying with us again and we'll see you again in about 10 days.