Trip Planning for Bridgers

as of 5:00 am
Today0″ | 15-39 W
Mar 27 6″ | 10-25 W
Mar 26 3″ | 10-20 W
8100′     03/28 at 12:00
31℉
0.4″New
8500′     03/28 at 12:00
28℉
W - 9mph
Gusts 41 mph
Primary Problem: Wind-Drifted Snow
Bottom Line: Wind-loading is the main avalanche concern in the Bridger and northern Gallatin Ranges. Fresh wind slab avalanches yesterday are a sign of what will occur again today. Snow will start to fall this morning and wind will continue loading slopes. Seek sheltered terrain and avoid terrain traps. Even shallow avalanches can be dangerous.

Past 5 Days

Sun Mar 24

Considerable
Mon Mar 25

Moderate
Tue Mar 26

Moderate
Wed Mar 27

Considerable
Today

Considerable

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Bridger Range
Frazier Basin
Wind Slab avalanches in Frazier Basin
Incident details include images
Frazier Basin
SS-N-R1-D2-I
Coordinates: 45.9233, -110.9800
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From IG: Very touchy on Hollywood wall this morning. All slopes easily propagated 4-6” deep on a firm bed surface. Most were less than 50’ wide with the exception of the slide in the couloir which propagated down the entire couloir, maybe 500’ wide, and ran through the exits into the main bowl.


More Avalanche Details
Bridger Range
The Ramp
Wind-Slab Avalanches in Bridger Range
Incident details include images
The Ramp
SS-NC-R2-D2-I
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.8288, -110.9310
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

On our drive home we saw, what I assume were, natural wind-slab avalanches on Quarter Saddle (looked like a cornice collapse) and in Argentina Bowl. Bridger Peak was obscured by heavy wind-loading. There was a small wind-slab release out of Gibbs (I think), I suspect skier triggered, but I could make out a track.

 


More Avalanche Details
Bridger Range
Frazier Basin
Cracking in Frazier Basin
Incident details include images
Frazier Basin
Coordinates: 45.9233, -110.9800
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From obs: "Skied into Frazier basin today. Triggered a few small windslabs and saw a lot of cracking on NW aspects. All windslabs were still small breaking a few inches deep 10-15 feet wide and only running short distances in steep terrain. Winds were strong from the NE all morning and still blowing hard and continuing to load slopes when we left at 12:30. "


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • From IG: Very touchy on Hollywood wall this morning. All slopes easily propagated 4-6” deep on a firm bed surface. Most were less than 50’ wide with the exception of the slide in the couloir which propagated down the entire couloir, maybe 500’ wide, and ran through the exits into the main bowl.

  • From IG: Very touchy on Hollywood wall this morning. All slopes easily propagated 4-6” deep on a firm bed surface. Most were less than 50’ wide with the exception of the slide in the couloir which propagated down the entire couloir, maybe 500’ wide, and ran through the exits into the main bowl.

  • There was a small wind-slab release out of Gibbs (I think), I suspect skier triggered, but I could make out a track. Photo: GNFAC

  • On our drive home we saw, what I assume were, natural wind-slab avalanches on Quarter Saddle (looked like a cornice collapse) and in Argentina Bowl. Bridger Peak was obscured by heavy wind-loading. Photo: GNFAC

  • On our drive home we saw, what I assume were, natural wind-slab avalanches on Quarter Saddle (looked like a cornice collapse) and in Argentina Bowl. Bridger Peak was obscured by heavy wind-loading. Photo: GNFAC

  • The wind was transporting significant amounts of the recent snow at high elevations. This is Naya Nuki loading as seen from the Ramp. Photo: GNFAC

  • The wind was transporting significant amounts of the recent snow at high elevations. This is Saddle Peak loading as seen from the Ramp. Photo: GNFAC

  • Skiers in Frazier Basin triggered several small wind slabs and saw widespread cracking on NW-facing terrain. Photo: C. Bayles

  • From obs: "Saw small avalanches on almost every wind loaded slope out of fairy lake. The one we spotted in the pomp twins had a defined crown roughly 100ft across." J. Alford

  • From obs: "Saw small avalanches on almost every wind loaded slope out of fairy lake. The one we spotted in the pomp twins had a defined crown roughly 100ft across." J. Alford

  • Skiers on 03/24/2024 observed this avalanche at the Playground that happened on 03/20/24. Photo: A. Newman

     

  • From obs. 3/23/24: "...Natural wet slab avalanche in the Playground, just North of Texas Meadows. It seemed to have been triggered from a wet loose avalanche that released from the cliffband above...." Photo: D. Sandberg

  • From obs. 3/23/24: "...Natural wet slab avalanche in the Playground, just North of Texas Meadows. It seemed to have been triggered from a wet loose avalanche that released from the cliffband above...." Photo: D. Sandberg

  • From obs 3/23/24: "...Also observed wet loose activity in S facing run off Texas (first run to the W of the summit)-photo attached. ..." Photo: D. Sandberg

  • From obs.: "Walked out the north gate of Bridger to the playground. Just north of Texas meadows observed a slide that ran sometime earlier in the week on a E aspect. Seems to have been triggered naturally by a loose wet coming out of the steep rocky terrain above. Ran about 200 feet was about 50-60 feet wide and crown was roughly 2-3 feet deep. Snow around the slide and on similar aspects was wet in the top 40 cms or so." Photo: C. Bayles

  • From obs.: "Walked out the north gate of Bridger to the playground. Just north of Texas meadows observed a slide that ran sometime earlier in the week on a E aspect. Seems to have been triggered naturally by a loose wet coming out of the steep rocky terrain above. Ran about 200 feet was about 50-60 feet wide and crown was roughly 2-3 feet deep. Snow around the slide and on similar aspects was wet in the top 40 cms or so." Photo: C. Bayles

  • From obs.: "Walked out the north gate of Bridger to the playground. Just north of Texas meadows observed a slide that ran sometime earlier in the week on a E aspect. Seems to have been triggered naturally by a loose wet coming out of the steep rocky terrain above. Ran about 200 feet was about 50-60 feet wide and crown was roughly 2-3 feet deep. Snow around the slide and on similar aspects was wet in the top 40 cms or so." Photo: C. Bayles

  • Photo from 03/19/2024. This avalanche likely happened yesterday or earlier. Photo: J. Mancey

  • We dug below the first cliff band and found 7' of snow, the bottom 2' consisting of weak facets. A Deep Tap Test showed a clean shear at this interface. An avalanche could be triggered by 3 ways: more load from snowfall or wet avalanche debris, melt-water percolating through the snowpack to the facets, or human triggering from a thin spot. Photo: GNFAC

     

     

  • Pn 3/16/24 We saw a few natural wet loose avalanches run throughout the middle of the day in sunny, steep rocky terrain. Photo: GNFAC

  • On 3/16/24 we saw a few natural wet loose avalanches run throughout the middle of the day in sunny, steep rocky terrain. There were at least 4 old, deeper avalanche crowns, most of which had been reported and occurred 1-2 weeks ago. Photo: GNFAC

     

  • On 3/16/24 We saw at least 4 old, deeper avalanche crowns, most of which had been reported and occurred 1-2 weeks ago. Photo: GNFAC

     

  • Skiers noted multiple avalanches on Ross Peak during their tour. These avalanches occurred on 3/3. Photo: A. Lind

  • Skiers noted multiple avalanches on Ross Peak during their tour. These avalanches occurred on 3/3. Photo: A. Lind

  • Skiers on 03/10/2024 observed an avalanche that was a couple of days old on the Naya Nuki Sacajewea headwall. Photo: Anonymous 

  • Skiers on 03/10/2024 observed an avalanche that was a couple of days old on the Naya Nuki Sacajewea headwall. Photo: Anonymous 

  • Skiers in Frazier Basin saw multiple wet loose slides on the SE face across the basin. Photo: C. Bayles

  • From IG 3/9/24: "Currently on the throne. Things warmed up quickly this morning. Wet loose, east aspect, 8500’, 10:30" Photo: T. Miller

  • A skier had a close call on Saddle Peak when he triggered an avalanche that swept 900 vertical feet down over the cliff band of Saddle Peak into Going Home Chute. This photo is of the lower crown and release. Photo: GNFAC

  • A skier had a close call on Saddle Peak when he triggered an avalanche that swept 900 vertical feet down over the cliff band of Saddle Peak into Going Home Chute. This photo is of the upper crown and release. Photo: GNFAC

  • A skier had a close call on Saddle Peak when he triggered an avalanche that swept 900 vertical feet down over the cliff band of Saddle Peak into Going Home Chute. Photo: GNFAC

  • Riders on 03/08/2024 observed this and several other crowns while riding in Frazier Basin. They estimated the avalanches to be a few days old. Photo: RK

  • From obs: "Today I saw evidence of Multiple N-R2-D2-I avalanches in the fairy lake zone. All three were NE facing, around 8800’. 2 slabs in Fraizer basin and one in the basin to the south. All three looked to be from 3/3-3/4 storm cycle" T. Guarino

  • Photo: GNFAC

  • Photo: GNFAC

  • Photo: GNFAC

  • Natural loose snow avalanche near Argentina Bowl. Photo: GNFAC

  • We saw numerous loose snow natural avalanches near Bridger Peak while driving. Photo: GNFAC

  • From IG 3/2

  • Riders near Fairy Lake noticed several fresh slab avalanches along the ridge top and in the middle of the bowl between Naya Nuki and Sacajewea.  Photo: K. Marvinney

Videos- Bridgers

WebCams


Bridger Base Area

Ridge, Looking North

Alpine Apron

Snowpit Profiles- Bridgers

 

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Weather Forecast Bridgers

Extended Forecast for

10 Miles NNE Bozeman MT

  • This
    Afternoon

    This Afternoon: Snow showers. Some thunder is also possible.  Temperature falling to around 33 by 5pm. West wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    Snow Showers

    High: 41 °F⇓

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Snow showers likely before 2am, then a slight chance of snow showers after 5am. Some thunder is also possible.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. West southwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

    Snow Showers
    Likely then
    Slight Chance
    Snow Showers

    Low: 22 °F

  • Friday

    Friday: A 40 percent chance of snow showers after noon.  Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. West wind 8 to 10 mph.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Mostly Sunny
    then Chance
    Snow Showers

    High: 39 °F

  • Friday
    Night

    Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. South southeast wind 8 to 11 mph becoming east after midnight.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow

    Low: 23 °F

  • Saturday

    Saturday: A 40 percent chance of snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. Northeast wind 7 to 9 mph.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow

    High: 37 °F

  • Saturday
    Night

    Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. East wind 7 to 10 mph.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance Snow

    Low: 23 °F

  • Sunday

    Sunday: Snow likely, mainly after noon.  Partly sunny, with a high near 36. East wind 7 to 13 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Snow Likely

    High: 36 °F

  • Sunday
    Night

    Sunday Night: A chance of snow before midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. North northeast wind 9 to 14 mph becoming west southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.

    Chance Snow
    then Partly
    Cloudy

    Low: 23 °F

  • Monday

    Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.

    Mostly Sunny

    High: 44 °F

The Last Word

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