Bearclaw Bob's

[bearclawbob]

another snowy day

Afternoon from you know where. Your right, Cooke city. We are still getting light snow since Friday. We've picked up about 2-3 inches in town and the mountain has about 14 inches. The snowman has moved us up to a winter storm warning. Showing we could see up to a foot of snow from this storm.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: The mountains around Bozeman, Big Sky and Cooke City did not get hit nearly as hard with new snow, however, these areas did receive a heavy amount of wind. Yesterday, most areas saw wind gusts between 40-50 mph, which moved snow around in higher elevations. Doug was in Hyalite yesterday and found gullies to be packed with fresh wind drifts. These drifts were mostly glued on, but he still avoided them and mentioned the situation could be different in the alpine.

Fresh wind drifts will be stubborn today, but still hold the potential to fail with the proper trigger. Be cautious when traveling around wind loaded slopes, specifically in steep high consequence terrain. The gullies in Hyalite are a perfect example of terrain where even a small wind slab can have severe consequences.

Cornices are an additional problem. They can break farther back than expected and can trigger slides on the slopes below.

Today, natural avalanches are unlikely, but human triggered avalanches remain possible on wind loaded slopes which have a MODERATE avalanche danger. Non-wind loaded slopes have a LOW avalanche danger.

 

[bearclawbob]

RECAP

Morning from Bearclaw/ bakery and the Super 8 motel. We've had snow a week ago today. It snowed about 2 feet on the mountain. Then it snowed again Friday and we picked up about another 2 feet on the mountain.
The snowman is calling for several days of nice weather. No snow until this weekend.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: The mountains near Cooke City received 7-10” of snow at the end of last week, which was drifted into wind slabs by strong southwest wind on Friday. On Saturday, a skier on the Fin triggered a 1-2’ deep wind slab and was partially buried (photo). They also reported another similar sized slide later in the day (photo). These 1-2’ thick drifts are possible to trigger on shady wind loaded slopes, where the snow surface is dry and did not form a crust from sun and warm temperatures yesterday (photo). Be cautious of wind loaded slopes and keep a far distance from the edge of large cornices and avoid slopes below. Avalanche danger today is MODERATE on wind loaded slopes and LOW otherwise.

 

[bearclawbob]

Afternoon

It's wet and slippery this afternoon. The park came up yesterday and plowed the road. The bottom went out and you couldn't get up the street. We did pick up a couple of snow over night.
I've been working hauling snow off the back streets. But the snowman is calling for snow for the next 5 days. We'll have to wait and see what it will bring.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: The mountains around Cooke City, West Yellowstone and the Bridger Range picked up 1-2” of high density snow. This will slightly improve riding conditions, but it won’t do much to elevate the avalanche danger. As temps drop below freezing today, the old snow surface on all but north facing slopes will be firm and locked up. Today, there won’t be much in the way of avalanche hazard other than large cornices. On Tuesday, I observed a few recent avalanches triggered by cornice failure in the mountains around Cooke City. Give cornices a wide berth along the ridgelines and limit your exposure time on slopes below.

Today, generally safe avalanche conditions exist and the avalanche danger is rated LOW.

 

[bearclawbob]

Overcast

Morning from Cooke city. We've seen some snow fall, but nothing to report. The snowman is calling for a chance of snow from today till next Saturday. It varies from 30% to 60%. Temp's will be in the mid to upper 30's.
I'm ready for more snow to come. I've removed snow off the back roads. Let it snow. Lets all do the snow dance for next weekend.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: The mountains near Cooke City and West Yellowstone got less snow (4-6” since Thursday) and don’t have signs of instability like the northern part of the advisory area. The primary concern today is fresh drifts of snow formed by moderate to strong east and southerly wind. These wind slabs are possible to trigger near ridgelines, and located on many aspects or unusual locations due to the wide range of wind direction.

Cornices along ridgelines are massive throughout the advisory area. Keep a far distance from the edge along ridgelines and avoid slopes below. Cornices can break farther back than expected and can trigger larger slides. Besides new snow instabilities and cornices, the snowpack is mostly stable and triggering a deeper avalanche is not likely.

Moderate to strong wind over the last 24 hours formed wind slabs that are possible to trigger today, and avalanche danger is MODERATE on wind loaded slopes and LOW otherwise.

 

[bearclawbob]

More snow to come

Morning from Bearclaw/bakery and the Super 8. Woke up to more snow. We picked up about 3 inches in town and about 8 inches on the mountain. The snowman is again calling for more snow for the next 5 days. Did I forget to tell everyone to stop the snow dance.
The way its going, we will be riding sleds to the end of JUNE this year. So when everyone is out in their boats skiing or fishing. Don't forget that we will be riding snowmobiles. So come out and see us.

I've been out moving snow for the last several weeks. That's why I haven't been on.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: “If you avoid wind-loaded slopes you’ll avoid avalanches.” This is true again today. New snow this morning and continued wind is creating unstable conditions and a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger on all wind loaded slopes. Slopes without a wind-load have a MODERATE danger.

 

[bigrig]

Thanks for the update Bob. We were starting to get kinda worried....

 

[bearclawbob]

More snow to come

Morning from Cooke city. The snowman just won't give up. He is showing snow till a week from this coming Monday. For tomorrow we could see up to 6 inches of the white stuff fall upon us. We could see zero or below for Monday night.

This will be the last report of the winter season. I would like to THANK each and everyone that has came to our community. Terri /Bob, and the crew at the Super 8 hopes to see every one this coming winter.
Don't forget, we rent side x side's. If you ever want to come see what you have rode over, come see us.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: Cornices are massive and dangerous (photo). They can fail under the weight of a person. Give them a wide distance along ridgelines and minimize time on slopes below. If the sun shines this morning, wet loose avalanches are possible on steep, sun exposed slopes. They will likely be small, but are something to keep an eye out for before clouds set in this afternoon. Today, avalanches are not likely or will be very small. Avalanche danger is rated LOW.

 

[bryceraisanen]

Morning from Cooke city. The snowman just won't give up. He is showing snow till a week from this coming Monday. For tomorrow we could see up to 6 inches of the white stuff fall upon us. We could see zero or below for Monday night.

This will be the last report of the winter season. I would like to THANK each and everyone that has came to our community. Terri /Bob, and the crew at the Super 8 hopes to see every one this coming winter.
Don't forget, we rent side x side's. If you ever want to come see what you have rode over, come see us.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: Cornices are massive and dangerous (photo). They can fail under the weight of a person. Give them a wide distance along ridgelines and minimize time on slopes below. If the sun shines this morning, wet loose avalanches are possible on steep, sun exposed slopes. They will likely be small, but are something to keep an eye out for before clouds set in this afternoon. Today, avalanches are not likely or will be very small. Avalanche danger is rated LOW.

R u heading out? Will the bakery be open in April?

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[revrider07]

Thanks bob for all the updates how about just one more. How much new on the mt

 

[bearclawbob]

Just to let you know

Morning from Bearclaw/bakery and the Super 8 motel. The snowman is still giving is lots of snow. Tuesday morning we picked up close to two feet on the mountains and we could see more snow until this coming weekend. I'll give you guys a few more updates while I"m still here. That will be until Saturday morning.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: Watch for areas of wind drifted snow near upper elevation ridgelines and cross loaded terrain features. Cornices are visual clues that underlying slopes could be heavily wind loaded. Use quick hasty pits or small test slopes to evaluate stability before committing to consequential terrain.

Outside of wind loaded slopes the snowpack is generally stable.

Today, human triggered avalanches are possible on wind loaded slopes which have a MODERATE avalanche danger. Non-wind loaded slopes have a LOW avalanche danger.

 

[christopher]

This will be the last report of the winter season.

Are the Bakery and the Super 8 closing??

 

[bearclawbob]

more snow

GOT SNOW. The snowman has us in a winter storm warning till noon tomorrow. We could see up to 16 inches of snow. I think some one is still doing the snow dance.

The Bakery is closed, but the Super 8 never closes. We are still honoring the Snowest discount if you need a room.

AVALANCHE CONDITIONS: The mountains around Big Sky and Cooke City picked up 3-6” totaling .3-.5” of SWE. Although not as much as the Bridger Range, it’s still enough to elevate the avalanche hazard.

The main problem today will be wind loaded slopes. West-southwest winds gusting 30-40 mph will easily transport the new snow and form fresh wind slabs, which will be easy to trigger. Watch for wind drifted snow near upper elevation ridgelines, rock bands, and steep convex terrain features. The best defense against avalanches today will be conservative terrain selections that avoid wind loaded slopes.

Additional concerns will be storm slabs and loose dry avalanches (sluffs). Pay close attention to how the new snow is bonding to the old snow surface and avoid steep, consequential terrain if the new snow slides easily.

Today, dangerous avalanche conditions exist on wind loaded slopes which have a CONSIDERABLE avalanche danger. Non-wind loaded slopes have a MODERATE avalanche danger.

 

[christopher]

The Bakery is closed, but the Super 8 never closes. We are still honoring the Snowest discount if you need a room. .

EXCELLENT!

 

[madmax]

Any idea when the road from west Yellowstone to Cooke will open?

 

[turboless terry]

Sometime in may is my bet

 

[christopher]

Any idea when the road from west Yellowstone to Cooke will open?

Not for a little while yet.
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm

Conditions permitting, roads will open at 8:00 am on the following dates:

• April 20: West Entrance to Madison, Mammoth to Old Faithful, Norris to Canyon.