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
Trip Planning for Bridgers
Primary Problem: Wind-Drifted Snow
Bottom Line: A layered snowpack capable of producing avalanches exists across the forecast area in most mid to upper-elevation terrain. Avalanches within the new and wind-drifted snow are likely on steep slopes at the tail end of this week’s storm. Without additional loading, stability will improve throughout the week. Employ an information-gathering mindset and a healthy distrust for steep snow-covered slopes. Signs of instability, such as recent avalanche activity, shooting cracks and collapsing, are red flags and reasons to avoid avalanche terrain. Dig a quick snowpit to assess for instability when obvious signs are not present.Past 5 Days
Fri Oct 18
None
None
Thu Oct 24
None
None
Wed Oct 30
None
None
Sat Nov 2
None
None
Wed Nov 6
None
None
Relevant Avalanche Activity
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
More Avalanche Details
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
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
More Avalanche Details
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
Bridger Range
Bridger Bowl
Whumphing and cracks below the Apron
Bridger Bowl
Coordinates: 45.8156, -110.9230
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0
More Avalanche Details
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 - 16
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Natural avalanche in Z-chute. observed 11/9. date of activity unknown.
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At 8000' just below the Sacajawea trail bowl, there is about 9" of snow.
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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
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"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
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Skiers spotted a skier-triggered avalanche from a distance. Photo: R. Cigler
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Snowpit at Bridger Bowl on 11/5. Photo: B. VandenBos
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Screenshots of webcams throughout the forecast area show new snow and snow cover on November 1.
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From obs: "1-3 mm faceting in front of the Montage. Clear skys and mid 20 temps"
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On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Yellowstone Club Webcam
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On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Bridger Bowl Webcams
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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
WebCams
Bridger Base Area
Ridge, Looking North
Alpine Apron
Weather Forecast Bridgers
Extended Forecast for10 Miles NNE Bozeman MT
Tonight
Low: 21 °F
Mostly Clear
Wednesday
High: 35 °F
Increasing
CloudsWednesday Night
Low: 27 °F
Partly Cloudy
and BreezyThursday
High: 37 °F
Mostly Sunny
Thursday Night
Low: 22 °F
Partly Cloudy
Friday
High: 32 °F
Chance Snow
Friday Night
Low: 23 °F
Snow
Saturday
High: 25 °F
Chance Snow
then Partly
SunnySaturday Night
Low: 17 °F
Partly Cloudy
The Last Word
Read accident reports from previous early season accidents before you venture to the snowy hills. This accident report from October 2012 in the northern Bridger Range, and this report from the tragic fatality six years ago in early October are reminders of the potential consequences of even a small avalanche.