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.
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."
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."
From obs: "Snow ranged from a dusting over rocks to some consistent 30-55 cm ribbons of deeper drifted veins of snow. Deepest pocket found was around 65/70cm.
Main recipe found was a growing stout wind slab on top of an older wind slab above some earlier season snow that was barely starting to facet at the base. No propagation on ECT but could change as the weight builds, very obvious slab development."
From obs: "Main recipe found was a growing stout wind slab on top of an older wind slab above some earlier season snow that was barely starting to facet at the base. No propagation on ECT but could change as the weight builds, very obvious slab development."
Hidden Gully
Small storm slabs in Hidden Gully
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
Natural avalanche in Z-chute. observed 11/9. date of activity unknown.
At 8000' just below the Sacajawea trail bowl, there is about 9" of snow.
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 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
Skiers spotted a skier-triggered avalanche from a distance. Photo: R. Cigler
Snowpit at Bridger Bowl on 11/5. Photo: B. VandenBos
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
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
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
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
Screenshots of webcams throughout the forecast area show new snow and snow cover on November 1.
From obs: "1-3 mm faceting in front of the Montage. Clear skys and mid 20 temps"
On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Yellowstone Club 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
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
NOW until 5:00pm Mon
Winter Weather Advisory
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High: 25 °F
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