Trip Planning for Bridgers

as of 5:00 am

Nov 16	4″ \| 10-25 W
Nov 15	0″ \| 30-48 E
Nov 14	0″ \| 15-45 W

Bridger Lift

8100′ 11/16 at 23:00

15℉
3.1″New

Bridger Ridge

8500′ 11/16 at 23:00

13℉
W - 22mph
Gusts 37 mph

Full Forecast

Primary Problem: Wind Slab

Bottom Line: Fresh wind slabs are the main avalanche problem especially by Sunday when strong winds should blow from the west. Early-season avalanches may not bury you, but they will hurt playing pinball with you through the rocks and stumps. Hunters should be especially cautious since they often travel alone and without avalanche rescue gear. Avoid steep slopes with snow deeper than your ankles.

Past 5 Days

Wed Oct 30

None

Sat Nov 2

None

Wed Nov 6

None

Wed Nov 13

None

Fri Nov 15

None

Relevant Avalanche Activity

2024-11-07

Bridger Range

Bridger Bowl

Natural Avalanche Bridger Bowl

Bridger Bowl
L-N-R2-D1.5-G
Elevation: 8,000
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 45.8156, -110.9230
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

On 20241107 I observed a small natural avalanche from the top of the PK lift at Bridger Bowl. The slide occurred near the Slushman’s lift on a NNE aspect. It started as a small release in the upper start zone and entrained much of the snow in the couloir down to the ground. L-N-D1.5- G.

Avalanche occurred after the start zone had come into the sun for a few minutes. The rest of the path was in the shade.

Wind speed at 11am 24mph gusting to 28mph on Bridger Ridge. Sky Clear. Temp 26F.

It was a relatively small slide but had enough power to carry a skier or rider through some very nasty terrain. Similar aspect and elevation to the Super Couloir slide.

More Avalanche Details

20241107 Bridger Bowl Natural Avalanche

2024-11-06

Bridger Range

Fairy Lake

Natural Avalanche near Fairy Lake

Fairy Lake
SS-N-R1-D1-G
Elevation: 9,400
Aspect: N
Coordinates: 45.9043, -110.9580
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From obs: "I made it up to an old crown in a north-facing chute around Fairy Lake at around 9400 ft; it broke the night of 11/6 or the morning of 11/7. It looked like a wind slab that broke on a rotten layer of facets intermixed with scree. Found facets to be fairly widespread through the bottom of the snowpack on the north-facing slopes and surface hoar on most nonsolar slopes."

More Avalanche Details

Old Avalanche Crown

2024-11-06

Bridger Range

Bridger Bowl

Whumphing and cracks below the Apron

Bridger Bowl
Coordinates: 45.8156, -110.9230
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From IG message: "Hey the post of super jogged my memory to send you this, a friend and I had whumpfing and cracks while skinning up the trees in the apron yesterday [11/6], we dug a pit and got an ect 4 collapse against the rocks. We were about halfway up the apron when we took this."

More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 18

Small storm slabs at Bridger

Hidden Gully
Small storm slabs at Bridger

Small storm slabs in Hidden Gully
Old Avalanche Crown

From obs: "I made it up to an old crown in a north-facing chute around Fairy Lake at around 9400 ft; it broke the night of 11/6 or the morning of 11/7. It looked like a wind slab that broke on a rotten layer of facets intermixed with scree. Found facets to be fairly widespread through the bottom of the snowpack on the north-facing slopes and surface hoar on most nonsolar slopes." Photo: J. Alford
Avalanche in Z chute, observed 11/9

Natural avalanche in Z-chute. observed 11/9. date of activity unknown.
Snow depth at 8k' in northern Bridgers

At 8000' just below the Sacajawea trail bowl, there is about 9" of snow.
20241107 Bridger Bowl Natural Avalanche

From obs: "On 20241107 I observed a small natural avalanche from the top of the PK lift at Bridger Bowl. The slide occurred near the Slushman’s lift on a NNE aspect. It started as a small release in the upper start zone and entrained much of the snow in the couloir down to the ground. L-N-D1.5- G... It was a relatively small slide but had enough power to carry a skier or rider through some very nasty terrain. Similar aspect and elevation to the Super Couloir slide." Photo: P. Crockard
Skier-triggered Avalanche in Super Couloir at Bridger Bowl

"Skier triggered Pocket in super couloir. Wasn't very unexpected, the skiers left side felt a little slabbier than the skiers right and tried to stay off. Triggered going over a sharky rock spot, not very fast moving and easy to ski out of. Snow depth was 2-2.5 feet." Photo: Anonymous
Avalanche in Super Couloir from Distance

Skiers spotted a skier-triggered avalanche from a distance. Photo: R. Cigler
Snowpit at Bridger

Snowpit at Bridger Bowl on 11/5. Photo: B. VandenBos
Cracking in recent hard wind slab

From e-mail: "Photo attached from near top of hyalite peak, 11/2. Cracking in recent hard wind slab, I had to really jump hard to make this. Walked on many other hard slabs that were well bonded. Highly variable snowpack. I think you'd be most likely to get into trouble by popping out a small hard slab pocket like this and getting magic carpeted into some thinly covered terrain." Photo: B. VandenBos
Snow on Sacagawea Peak

The high peaks of the Bridger Range are holding snow from storm to storm. This will likely make up the foundation of the season’s snow pack. Photo: GNFAC
Snow in the Bridger Range

The high peaks of the Bridger Range are holding snow from storm to storm. This will likely make up the foundation of the season’s snow pack. Photo: GNFAC
Ross Peak with early season snow

The high peaks of the Bridger Range are holding snow from storm to storm. This will likely make up the foundation of the season’s snow pack. Photo: GNFAC
Snow cover on the Apron, Nov 1

Screenshots of webcams throughout the forecast area show new snow and snow cover on November 1.
Minor Faceting in At Spanish Peaks Resort

From obs: "1-3 mm faceting in front of the Montage. Clear skys and mid 20 temps"
Fresh Snow in Big Sky

On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Yellowstone Club Webcam
Bridger Bowl Ridge Webcam

On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Bridger Bowl Webcams
Powder Blast 2024 - October 25

The 26th annual fundraiser for the Friends of the GNFAC is October 25 at the Emerson Cultural Center. More info and tickets at: https://events.eventgroove.com/event/Powder-Blast-2024-101627