Avalanche
Two snowmobilers were caught and killed in an avalanche on Scotch Bonnet Mountain north of Cooke City, MT, on Monday, December 27, 2021.
According to a preliminary report from the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center, four riders were on the slope at the time of the avalanche. Two were able to escape. All eight members of the group had rescue equipment. The avalanche broke 5’ deep and approximately 300’ wide on a southeast-facing slope.
Park County Sheriff Search and Rescue members arrived to assist with rescue and recovery efforts.
Investigators are in Cooke City and will release further details as they become available.
Consistent snowfall for the last five days in the mountains around Cooke City, West Yellowstone, Southern Madison, and Southern Gallatin Ranges creates dangerous avalanche conditions. Human-triggered avalanches are likely on steep wind-loaded slopes, and large avalanches could break deeply on buried weak layers.
These conditions will continue while weak layers adjust to the weight of the new snow. Stay safe out there.
The deaths are the fifth and sixth in the US this winter and the seventh in North America.
