Regional Conditions for Bridgers

Multiple (at least 3) Natural avalanches in Truman Gulch on the west side of the Bridger Range ran on Wednesday 1/13/21. Photo: P. Hinz

Routine avalanche mitigation within the boundaries of Bridger Bowl sympathetically caused half of the Football Field on Saddle Peak to avalanche immediately south of the boundary. "Debris ran over the cliffs pulling out spindrift cones that were up to 5 ft deep." Photo: BBSP

*Note: BBSP does not perform any avalanche mitigation outside of the ski area boundaries

The recent wind has stripped the snowpack bare in spots and created large drifts in others at the Throne. Photo: GNFAC

The thin snowpack at the Throne is harboring the largest depth hoar I have seen this season. Photo: GNFAC

From obs: "On our way out to fairy lake we stopped in the open meadow just before the campground and noticed a sizeable natural avalanche on a northfacing slope that appeared to have broken on the layer of sugary facets on the ground. From our perspective it appeared to have happened a few days ago likely after the loading event midweek." Photo: E. Marcoux

Skiers triggered this avalanche on Flanders Mountain on 1/9/21. It was triggered out of the photo to the right on a seperate slope around the corner. It propagated over 1000' wide, and looks to be 6' deep at deepest. Photo: A. Blackmer

From obs: "the whumpf I had heard previously remotely triggered a series of 7-8 large cracks that ranged from 30-100 feet wide. ... As I carefully descended the meadow, I saw many more cracks throughout the slope from the same remote trigger event. Additionally, I triggered two more significant whumpfs with shooting cracks 10-40 feet wide. We determined our remote trigger was at least 300 feet away from where the snow collapsed and cracked"

Photo: L. Ippolito

Large natural avalanche south of Hardscrabble Peak near Fairy Lake. Likely broke during snowfall/wind on Thursday, Jan 7th.

 A skier had widespread collapsing, "whumphing" and cracking of the snowpack in Truman Gulch west of Bridger Bowl. Photo: P. Hinz

"I was skiing down the apron at Bridger and noticed this slide on Bradley's that appeared to be skier triggered." Photo: B. O'Donoghue

Natural avalanche that ran during or prior to storm morning of 1/5/21. Photo: GNFAC

Natural avalanche on Saddle Peak that ran during a heavy snow storm the morning of 1/5/21. Photo: GNFAC

On January 1, 2021 at approximately 1500 hrs a skier triggered this avalanche on Saddle Peak south of Bridger Bowl. Photo: Bridger Bowl

On January 1, 2021 at approximately 1500 hrs a skier triggered this avalanche on Saddle Peak south of Bridger Bowl. Photo: Bridger Bowl

On January 1, 2021 at approximately 1500 hrs a skier triggered this avalanche on Saddle Peak south of Bridger Bowl. Photo: Bridger Bowl

We visited the Throne in the northern Bridgers on 12/26/20. There is a base of weak, sugary facets below snow that fell today and earlier this week. Photo: GNFAC

Crown of a skier triggered avalanche on the Football Field, out of bounds south of Bridger Bowl, on 12/25/2020.

A skier triggered avalanche on the Football Field, out of bounds south of Bridger Bowl, on 12/25/2020.

Crown of a skier triggered avalanche on the Football Field, out of bounds south of Bridger Bowl, on 12/25/2020.

Crown of a skier triggered avalanche on the Football Field, out of bounds south of Bridger Bowl, on 12/25/2020.

Crown of a skier triggered avalanche on the Football Field, out of bounds south of Bridger Bowl, on 12/25/2020.

Skier riding down to the crown around 12:45 pm Christmas Day. Photo: M. Loge

Natural avalanches on Bridger Peak observed at 1200 on 12/24/20. These occurred within the last 24 hours after the area had 8-12" of snow (.3-.5" SWE) and strong winds. Weak sugary snow on the ground failed under the weight of fresh slabs. This activity is a sign that the snowpack has a poor structure that will struggle to support future storms. Photo: GNFAC

This recent avalanche activity was observed at 1200 on 12/24/20, and occurred in the last 24 hours. Photo: GNFAC

Strong wind over the weekend deposited fresh drifts, about 10" deep, over weak snow. Bridger Bowl ski patrol triggered a few of these drifts on Monday (12/21) during avalanche mitigation. Photo: BBSP

A skier kicked off a larger than expected cornice as they skinned up the ridge on the W side of Beehive basin on Sunday (12/20/20).

From obs.: "Kicked off a larger than expected cornice as we skinned up the ridge on the W side of Beehive basin. Wind was blowing 20-ish across the opening, cornice had grown pretty good-sized for so little snow. I was making a turn on skins to get back away from the edge when the cornice gave way, probably pulled 25 feet end to end and broke a good 5 feet back from the lee edge of the cornice. I was able to get off the cornice and avoid going over the edge. No activity on the slope below after cornice drop,... although there was a decent hard slab that pulled out just below the ridge when the cornice dropped onto it.... Hard slab on the edges was about 10" deep, some big chunks of cornice on the slope for any future riders..."

Light wind created soft drifts of new, low density snow near the ridgeline in the Bridger Range. This wind slab easily cracked when touched with skis, 20 feet along the ridge and 5-10 feet down, but didn't slide. This is a sign drifts will be unstable as they grow with more snow and wind. Photo: GNFAC

This avalanche in Sluice Box at Bridger Bowl released mid morning on 12/3/2020. Crown estimated at 2 Feet. Photo: BBSP

A skier saw this avalanche get triggered at Bridger Bowl (Schlasmans Lift) this afternoon 12/2/2020. "...The toe of the slide was all of 6’ deep. There is about a foot of fresh sitting on top of faceted crust that is sitting on top of more facets and another crust,..." Photo: Anonymous

This snowpit at Bridger Bowl was on a shaded ENE aspect at 7,800'. The lower two thirds are mostly sugary, weak facets with a hard crust in the middle. This weak snow is not the best foundation for the winter's snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

Under the Schlasman's chairlift at Bridger on November 29, 2020. Snow depth ranged from 3" to 18". Conditions were generally very shallow and rocky. Photo: GNFAC

From obs: "NW of Elf Lake. Lower Pitch in Trees, 2 well defined weak layers present primarily at surface (30cm) and just below at (20cm). 7785FT, Clear, 25F. 10 degree Slope Facing Easterly in forest below steeps." Photo: J Budreski

From obs: "while I was skinning up to the rollover I popped off a wind slab approximately 50 X 50’ with a 6” crown. The slab itself was only about 4” thick and only slid about 5” down the slope before stopping, and I was able to stop and then turn around and ski off of the slab without it moving any further. The 4” of dry slab was sitting on about 3” of sugary snow that was on a very firm icy bed surface." Photo: Anonymous

From IG message: Northern Bridgers is seeing a lot of avalanche hazard. Deep wind slabs where I was on Hardscrabble (SE aspect and NE). On my skin out I saw two avalanche crowns on the NE side of Pomp Pk. One had a party of two that triggered it and they were starting to descend away from avy terrain. Asked some other skiers up there what they saw and similar findings throughout the area. Dug one pit that showed facets on the ground covered by hard, icy snow with wind loaded snow on top of that. On my descent of Hardscrabble i picked my way thru the exposed rock and when I got into deeper snow it propagated about 60% of the time but did not slide really. Photo: D. Britt

Watch the video HERE!

"High winds this week really stripped a lot of terrain, and the snow pack was exceptionally thin in many places. This is looking into Frazier Basin..." Photo: M. Standal

The BBWC (Bridger Bowl Wind Cloud). Strong winds drifted recent snow into slabs that could avalanche on steep slopes. Early season snow means we need to be thinking about and managing avalanche hazard when we travel in the mountains. Photo: B. Rode

The BBWC (Bridger Bowl Wind Cloud) on Tuesday 10/27 accompanied 50-60 mph gusts. This strong wind drifted recent snow into slabs that could avalanche on steep slopes. Early season snow means we need to be thinking about and managing avalanche hazard when we travel in the mountains. Photo: GNFAC

Skier triggered slide on 10/26 at Bridger Bowl near the top of Pierre's Knob lift. Photo: @taitbigmoneyswan