Trip Planning for Bridgers

View Weather and Avalanche Log
24 Hour Snowfall and Wind
as of 5:00 am
Nov 164″ | 10-25 W
Nov 15 0″ | 30-48 E
Nov 14 0″ | 15-45 W
Bridger Lift
8100′     11/17 at 03:00
20℉
3.1″New
Bridger Ridge
8500′     11/17 at 03:00
15℉
W - 20mph
Gusts 41 mph
Primary Problem: Wind Slab
Bottom Line: Fresh wind slabs are the main avalanche problem especially by Sunday when strong winds should blow from the west. Early-season avalanches may not bury you, but they will hurt playing pinball with you through the rocks and stumps. Hunters should be especially cautious since they often travel alone and without avalanche rescue gear. Avoid steep slopes with snow deeper than your ankles.

Past 5 Days

Wed Oct 30

None
Sat Nov 2

None
Wed Nov 6

None
Wed Nov 13

None
Fri Nov 15

None

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Bridger Range
Bridger Bowl
Natural Avalanche Bridger Bowl
Incident details include images
Bridger Bowl
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

20241107 Bridger Bowl Natural Avalanche
Bridger Range
Fairy Lake
Natural Avalanche near Fairy Lake
Incident details include images
Fairy Lake
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

Old Avalanche Crown
Bridger Range
Bridger Bowl
Whumphing and cracks below the Apron
Bridger Bowl
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 - 18
  • Small storm slabs at Bridger

    Hidden Gully

  • Small storm slabs at Bridger

    Small storm slabs in Hidden Gully 

  • Old Avalanche Crown

    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

  • Avalanche in Z chute, observed 11/9

    Natural avalanche in Z-chute. observed 11/9. date of activity unknown.

  • Snow depth at 8k' in northern Bridgers

    At 8000' just below the Sacajawea trail bowl, there is about 9" of snow.
     

     

  • 20241107 Bridger Bowl Natural Avalanche

    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 Avalanche in Super Couloir at Bridger Bowl

    "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

  • Avalanche in Super Couloir from Distance

    Skiers spotted a skier-triggered avalanche from a distance. Photo: R. Cigler

  • Snowpit at Bridger

    Snowpit at Bridger Bowl on 11/5. Photo: B. VandenBos

  • Cracking in recent hard wind slab

    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

  • Snow on Sacagawea Peak

    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

  • Snow in the Bridger Range

    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

  • Ross Peak with early season snow

    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

  • Snow cover on the Apron, Nov 1

    Screenshots of webcams throughout the forecast area show new snow and snow cover on November 1.

  • Minor Faceting in At Spanish Peaks Resort

    From obs: "1-3 mm faceting in front of the Montage. Clear skys and mid 20 temps"

  • Fresh Snow in Big Sky

    On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Yellowstone Club Webcam

  • Bridger Bowl Ridge 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

  • Powder Blast 2024 - October 25

    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

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 Stations- Bridgers

Big Sky

Weather Forecast Bridgers

Full Forecast, NOAA website
Extended Forecast for

10 Miles NNE Bozeman MT

Winter Weather Advisory November 17, 08:00pm until November 18, 05:00pmClick here for hazard details and duration Winter Weather Advisory

  • Overnight

    Overnight: A 30 percent chance of snow after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 24. Breezy, with a west southwest wind around 26 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Low: 24 °F

    Chance Snow
    and Breezy

  • Sunday

    Sunday: A 10 percent chance of snow before 7am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 16 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.

    High: 36 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow and
    Breezy then
    Mostly Sunny

  • Sunday Night

    Sunday Night: Snow likely, mainly after 4am. Patchy blowing snow between midnight and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Breezy, with a southwest wind 17 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

    Low: 22 °F

    Snow Likely
    and Patchy
    Blowing Snow

  • Monday

    Monday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 25. West wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

    High: 25 °F

    Heavy Snow

  • Monday Night

    Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. West southwest wind around 9 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Low: 11 °F

    Chance Snow
    then Partly
    Cloudy

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of snow after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 20. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

    High: 20 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow

  • Tuesday Night

    Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 8. South wind 6 to 10 mph.

    Low: 8 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 29. Southwest wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

    High: 29 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: A slight chance of snow after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.

    Low: 23 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow

The Last Word

11 / 13 / 24  <<  
 
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