Trip Planning for Bridgers

as of 5:00 am
Mar 242″ | 15-30 W
Mar 23 0″ | 15-35 W
Mar 22 1″ | 5-15 NW
8100′     03/25 at 00:00
16℉
2.2″New
8500′     03/25 at 00:00
14℉
W - 16mph
Gusts 26 mph
Bottom Line: There are two major avalanche concerns today - avalanches breaking in the new and windblown snow and huge deep slab avalanches. Be wary once more than a couple inches of new snow have accumulated. The larger and much more dangerous concern is deep slab avalanches. Everytime it has snowed in the last month we’ve seen a deep slab avalanche break somewhere in our advisory area. This makes us nervous of even the relatively small snowfall amounts we’re expecting today.
Primary Problem: Persistent Weak Layer

Past 5 Days

Mon Mar 20

Moderate
Tue Mar 21

Moderate
Wed Mar 22

Moderate
Thu Mar 23

Low
Fri Mar 24

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Bridger Range
Frazier Basin
New snow avalanches, Frazier Basin
Incident details include images
Frazier Basin
L-N-R2-D1.5-I
Elevation: 9,200
Aspect: SE
Coordinates: 45.9233, -110.9800
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

As we returned to Frazier Basin from below, we saw five natural avalanches on the southeast-facing wall of the basin. These had occurred while we were skiing the terrain below. They entrained only the 1 to 2 inches of snow that had fallen during the day. However, they were notable in that they ran 500 to 700 vertical feet. They were likely initiated by warming from the proximal cliff faces. They indicate that the new snow may not bond well to the old snow surface. A crust formed by the recent warm temperatures and sunny skies is the subsurface that snow is falling on. This will become a more significant concern as more snow falls this week.
 

 


More Avalanche Details
Bridger Range
Frazier Basin
Natural avalanche at Frazier Basin
Incident details include images
Frazier Basin
SS-N-R1-D1.5
Elevation: 9,000
Coordinates: 45.9233, -110.9800
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From IG message 3/11/23: "...yesterday, at Fairy Lake, very windy and this slid naturally sometime between when we got to the area at noon and 3oclock. There was also a smaller natural wind slab in the northern bowl with arrowhead. Observed wind loading all day."


More Avalanche Details
Bridger Range
Airplane Bowl
Airplane bowl avalanche, North Bridger Range
Incident details include images
Airplane Bowl
HS-N-R3-D3-U
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 44.7250, -111.3220
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From Obs, "Noticed this large avalanche in unsupported terrain yesterday morning. I called it HS-N-R3-D3-U although it looks to have failed on facets at the ground. Frequent flyer but impressive. Debris was approx. the size of a football field and 8-10' deep, ran full extent of D3 track.

We dug on a nearby slope. 8050', E/SE, 29 deg. HS 200cm, N/O interface down 40cm. 1cm MFcr with small grained facets above and below. Fair structure, no prop. A bit of grapple mixed in new snow and todays solar input was not warm enough to soften current surf. crust"


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • As we returned to Frazier Basin from below, we saw five natural avalanches on the southeast-facing wall of the basin. They entrained only the 1 to 2 inches of snow that had fallen during the day. However, they were notable in that they ran 500 to 700 vertical feet. They indicate that the new snow may not bond well to the old snow surface. A crust formed by the recent warm temperatures and sunny skies is the subsurface that snow is falling on. This will become a more significant concern as more snow falls this week. Photo: GNFAC
     

     

  • From obs: "Noticed this large avalanche in unsupported terrain yesterday morning. I called it HS-N-R3-D3-U although it looks to have failed on facets at the ground. Frequent flyer but impressive. Debris was approx. the size of a football field and 8-10' deep, ran full extent of D3 track." A Newman

  • From obs: "Noticed this large avalanche in unsupported terrain yesterday morning. I called it HS-N-R3-D3-U although it looks to have failed on facets at the ground. Frequent flyer but impressive. Debris was approx. the size of a football field and 8-10' deep, ran full extent of D3 track." A Newman

  • From obs: "Noticed this large avalanche in unsupported terrain yesterday morning. I called it HS-N-R3-D3-U although it looks to have failed on facets at the ground. Frequent flyer but impressive. Debris was approx. the size of a football field and 8-10' deep, ran full extent of D3 track." A Newman

  • From IG message 3/11/23: "...yesterday, at Fairy Lake, very windy and this slid naturally sometime between when we got to the area at noon and 3oclock. There was also a smaller natural wind slab in the northern bowl with arrowhead. Observed wind loading all day." Photo: P. Norvell

  • From IG, “Noticed a few natural and human triggered surface slides of the new snow on the old crust layer. All of these were north of Bridger Bowl on The Ramp” C Lambert

  • From IG, “Noticed a few natural and human triggered surface slides of the new snow on the old crust layer. All of these were north of Bridger Bowl on The Ramp”

  • From Obs, "Toured wolverine bowl and noticed a couple of large slides near the ridge on NE aspects. The most obvious was this one on the Hourglass that looks like it went in the last week. The trigger could have been part of the massive cornices breaking off." Photo: R. Leslie

  • Intentionally triggered new snow avalanche at Flathead Pass. Photo: T Miller

  • Intentionally triggered new snow avalanche at Flathead Pass. Photo: T Miller

  • On Buck Ridge today (3/5/23) we found fresh, unstable drifts. This fresh slab was 4-6" deep. Cracking like this is a sign that wind slabs will avalanche on steeper slopes. Photo: GNFAC

  • Skier triggered avalanche on Elephant Mtn. 3/4/23. SS-ASu-R2-D1.5-I

    Vertical Fall: ~700' Distance Traveled: ~1000' Aspect: 15 N Elevation of start zone: 9645'

  • Skier triggered deep slab avalanche on NE face of Hyalite Peak 3/4/23.

  • From IG: Skiers near Mt. Blackmore on 2/24 saw a large avalanche on the east side of Mt. Blackmore that appeared to have happened in the last 24 hours.

  • From email 2/24/23: "Came across this very large cornice that appeared to have broken naturally sometime in the past 24 hours. Saw a few others that had broken recently throughout our tour, but none as large as this." E. Heiman

  • Drove up to Bridger at noon and saw a large avalanche on along the road north of the fire station. It was 75’ wide, 1-1.5’ deep and 25’ vertical. HS-N-R4-D1.5/2. It was on an east facing slope, south of the long slope that has cornices. Photo: GNFAC

  • Drove up to Bridger at noon and saw a large avalanche on along the road north of the fire station... The slope with cornices hadn’t slid at this point. On the way home at 3:30 the larger slope with cornices had slid. It was very big, possibly R5. 1.5-2’ deep, 200’ wide, huge chunks of hard slab and cornice. Looks like new wind-loaded snow with some gouges into older snow. Photo: GNFAC

  • Drove up to Bridger at noon and saw a large avalanche on along the road north of the fire station... The slope with cornices hadn’t slid at this point. On the way home at 3:30 the larger slope with cornices had slid. It was very big, possibly R5. 1.5-2’ deep, 200’ wide, huge chunks of hard slab and cornice. Looks like new wind-loaded snow with some gouges into older snow. Photo: GNFAC

  • About 34 degree rollover, 14 inch crown. Photo: E. Volk

  • Went for a ski up the Flanders drainage in Hyalite today. The day was punctuated by light winds and heavy snowfall.

     

    On the skin in, we noted numerous D1 storm slab avalanches about 15cm down in the new snow on many aspects and elevations. Approaching a ridgeline, we experienced a shooting crack that propagated a very small slide in slightly wind affected snow. We dug an ECT on a SE facing aspect at 9000ft. We were unable to get propagation. Snow totals appeared to be higher than forecasted, with 60cm of new snow as of about 12:30. By the time we ripped skins, the area had received an additional 10cm of snow, putting totals around 60-70cm of low density snow on top of a stout melt freeze crust on the aspect we were skiing.
     

    we did not observe any cracking collapsing or wumphing in buried weak layers, nor signs of avalanches on those layers. The new snow had very low SWE.

  • I sunk to the ground on Mt Ellis when I stepped out of my skis. A poor, unsupportable structure is not everywhere, but it certainly was on the ridge. Photo: GNFAC

  • Karl Birkeland got an ECTP9 under a wind slab on the Throne. We could feel the hard slab and softer, weaker snow under it with our ski pole. Photo: GNFAC

  • We founds areas that were scoured to the dirt and adjacent areas loaded from the wind. The evidence of strong wind was everywhere. Photo: GNFAC

  • At the ridgetop of the Throne we found deep wind slabs that had cracked naturally; a sign of instability. Photo: GNFAC

  • One maybe two distinct seemingly natural large natural slab avalanches on small slope directly next to bridger canyon drive.  One on the lookers left was likely cornice triggered, but on the right it's unclear to me if it propagated or released naturally.

  • One maybe two distinct seemingly natural large natural slab avalanches on small slope directly next to bridger canyon drive.  One on the lookers left was likely cornice triggered, but on the right it's unclear to me if it propagated or released naturally.

  • Thanks to everyone who came out and supported the Friends of the GNFAC at this year's King and Queen of the Ridge at Bridger Bowl! Photo: GNFAC

  • This year's King of the Ridge, Casey Bloomer with a record-setting 34 hikes. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported the Friends of the GNFAC at this year's King and Queen of the Ridge at Bridger Bowl! Photo: GNFAC

  • Thanks to everyone who came out and supported the Friends of the GNFAC at this year's King and Queen of the Ridge at Bridger Bowl! Photo: GNFAC

  • Thanks to everyone who came out and supported the Friends of the GNFAC at this year's King and Queen of the Ridge at Bridger Bowl! Photo: GNFAC

  • Impressive avalanche cycle in the Bridgers to view as the skies clear.  Most slides seemed to have happened mid storm.  Here’s some photos of a large slide on the west side/behind north boundary.  Photo: B. Sienkowski

  • Impressive avalanche cycle in the Bridgers to view as the skies clear.  Most slides seemed to have happened mid storm.  Here’s some photos of a large slide on the west side/behind north boundary.  Photo: B. Sienkowski

  • Debris from large avalanche cycle on 1/28-1/29. Photo: BBSP

  • From IG message: "Another one today. Back of buck creek. Triggered 100 yards above where I crossed below it in the safe zone, after I went by. No burials."

  • From obs 1/28/23: "While snowmobiling up Little Bear we witnessed this natural avalanche. There was 2-3' of new snow." Photo: J. Otis

  • From obs 1/28/23: "There were numerous debris piles, point releases, and crowns on the north face of Elephant and the northeast face of Blackmore this morning.  Most of them appeared to have run during the storm (1/27) and had been covered by at least 6 inches of new snow." Photo. S. Regnerus

  • From IG:

    Fairy lake today (1/27/23), remote trigger from top of the ridge

    About 2-2.5ft deep about 75-100 ft wide

     

  • From Big Sky Ski Patrol 1/21/23: "skier triggered a surface wind slab in Wyoming Bowl that broke 8-12” deep. It propagated to an estimated 150’ wide- SS, R1/D1.5... The slide was small, no one was hurt, and the avalanche was reported (which we appreciate), with no further public involvement other than the trigger."

  • Another slide was seen from the highway in Argentina Bowl. This slide appears to be a shallow soft slab that ~50 ft wide and ran ~500 vertical ft.

  • Darren Johnson was a passionate skier, patroller, and wildland firefighter and this fund helps his memory live on. During the week of January 16, 2023, there are two events happening to help spread awareness about the DJ Fund and generate donations for the next recipients to attend National Avalanche School in October 2024. The first event is at the Independent Theatre on Tuesday, January 17. This charity event has a $10 entry fee which includes a raffle ticket to a silent auction. On Thursday, January 19, join us at Beehive Basin Brewery for a raffle and pint night in which $1 from every pint sold goes into the DJ Memorial Fund.

    To donate to the Darren Johnson Avalanche Education Memorial Fund visit djmemorialfund.org, or join us at these two exciting events hosted by Yellowstone Club Ski Patrol. Huge thanks to all who have sponsored and donated to these events.

Videos- Bridgers

WebCams


Bridger Base Area

Ridge, Looking North

Alpine Apron

Snowpit Profiles- Bridgers

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Forecast Bridgers

Extended Forecast for

10 Miles NNE Bozeman MT

Winter Storm Warning until March 27, 12:00amClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Storm Warning
  •  Winter Storm Warning until March 27, 12:00am

    NOW until
    12:00am Mon

    Winter Storm Warning

  • Overnight

    Overnight: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times.  Low around 17. Wind chill values as low as zero. Blustery, with a west northwest wind around 22 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible.

    Heavy Snow
    and Blustery

    Low: 17 °F

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times.  High near 27. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 14 to 22 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

    Heavy Snow
    and Blustery

    High: 27 °F

  • Saturday
    Night

    Saturday Night: Snow.  Low around 17. Northwest wind 7 to 14 mph becoming north northeast in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    Snow

    Low: 17 °F

  • Sunday

    Sunday: Snow.  High near 28. North wind 9 to 11 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

    Snow

    High: 28 °F

  • Sunday
    Night

    Sunday Night: Snow likely, mainly before midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. North northeast wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

    Snow Likely
    then Chance
    Snow

    Low: 13 °F

  • Monday

    Monday: A 50 percent chance of snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. East southeast wind around 8 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow

    High: 27 °F

  • Monday
    Night

    Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 10. Southwest wind around 11 mph becoming southeast in the evening.

    Partly Cloudy

    Low: 10 °F

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: A chance of snow after noon.  Partly sunny, with a high near 32. South wind 11 to 13 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

    Partly Sunny
    then Chance
    Snow

    High: 32 °F

The Last Word

On Wednesday, March 22nd, a snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche in central Idaho. This brings the total number of avalanche fatalities in March to 7 people across the U.S.

More info on each event is available at the Avalanche.org Accidents Page.

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