Trip Planning for Bridgers

as of 5:00 am
Today5″ | 14-23 W
Apr 1 13″ | 10-45 W
Mar 31 2″ | 15-24 SW
8100′     04/02 at 21:00
21℉
0″New
8500′     04/02 at 21:00
19℉
W - 9mph
Gusts 14 mph
Primary Problem: Wind Slab
Bottom Line: There are three avalanche problems to consider today: wind slabs, storm slabs, and dry loose avalanches. Avoid places at the tops or sides of slopes where winds have drifted some snow making the powder more cohesive and more likely to avalanche. Watch for any signs like shooting cracks that the new snow is unstable and consider doing some quick tests like Dave shows in this video. Jump on small test slopes or walk/ride above other tracks to get a feel for how the new is bonded. If getting into steeper terrain where getting pushed downhill could be a problem, consider how to manage sluffing.

Past 5 Days

Sat Mar 29

Low
Sun Mar 30

Moderate
Mon Mar 31

Moderate
Tue Apr 1

Considerable
Today

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Bridger Range
Saddle Peak
Wet Loose Avalanche Between Saddle Peak
Incident details include images
Saddle Peak
WL-AS-R1-D1.5-I
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.7943, -110.9360
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Heavy, wet slide of recent snow released while skiing off South Saddle.


More Avalanche Details
Bridger Range
Fairy Lake
Dry Loose near Fairy Lake
Incident details include images
Fairy Lake
L-AS-R1-D1.5-S
Elevation: 8,400
Coordinates: 45.9043, -110.9580
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Skied the north chutes above fairy lake around 8,400 ft. Found 8-12" of new snow, with the bottom 2" consisting of large graupel. In steep terrain our sluff entrained lots of snow making for some large debris piles. Overall the snow was generally well bonded.


More Avalanche Details
Bridger Range
The Throne
Storm snow avalanches on Throne
The Throne
AS
Elevation: 8,300
Aspect: N
Coordinates: 45.8822, -110.9520
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

The skiing was good and non reactive on the main East face next to the skin track. The North gullies into Naya Nuki creek and the the lower/steeper gullies to the south were highly reactive and entraining lots of snow.


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • In one steeper roll over, I got shooting cracks and a small storm slab to break at my ski tips. Photo: GNFAC

     

  • Heavy, wet slide of recent snow released while skiing off South Saddle. The photo is from South Central. Photo: E. Volk

  • Heavy, wet slide of recent snow released while skiing off South Saddle. The photo is from South Central. Photo: E. Volk

  • "Skied the north chutes above fairy lake around 8,400 ft. Found 8-12" of new snow, with the bottom 2" consisting of large graupel. In steep terrain our sluff entrained lots of snow making for some large debris piles. Overall the snow was generally well bonded." Photo: S. Lipsteuer

  • There were a number of wet loose avalanches in Airplane Bowl. All on E/S aspects near rocks or cliffs. Most were relatively small and had not entrained much snow from the surface or gouged deeper than a few inches. Photo: GNFAC

     

  • There were a number of wet loose avalanches in Airplane Bowl. All on E/S aspects near rocks or cliffs. Most were relatively small and had not entrained much snow from the surface or gouged deeper than a few inches. Photo: GNFAC

     

  • Noticed crown and debris on drive up Bridger Canyon this morning.  Looks like a wind slab. Photo: Peter H

  • Understanding Avalanche Safety Preparedness – 5-Minute Survey for Motorized Users

    We need your input! Eastern Oregon University is conducting a survey to better understand avalanche safety preparedness among motorized backcountry users like you. Your feedback will help us learn more about who is purchasing and practicing with avalanche rescue gear (beacon, probe, shovel) and participating in avalanche education—and why some riders aren’t.  The survey is confidential and anonymous.  

    Your feedback is invaluable in improving avalanche education and awareness. Please take a moment to share your experience and help us make a difference.

    https://eoustmhs.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3L8QKAuZzcxJBLo

    Thank you for your time and for being a part of this important effort!

  • We skied past a wet loose avalanche that came off of the south face of Bradley‘s Meadow. It was slightly bigger than the rest of the wet snow activity that I observed during the day. Photo: GNFAC

  • The snow ranger crew was riding around the Bridgers today and we spotted this slide in the bowl to the south of Hardscrabble peak.  It looked fairly recent (last 2 days) but a little hard to tell due to the new snow since yesterday and blowing snow today.  Photo: USFS Snow Rangers

     

  • As we neared the ridgeline and shifted to a more southerly aspect, we noted scalloped and scoured snow surfaces and the development of thin wind skins and a few 1-2" wind slabs. Photo: GNFAC

  • Nature or cornice triggered slides in Arrowhead and Hardscrabble Bowls. Photo: I Freeland

  • Nature or cornice triggered slides in Arrowhead and Hardscrabble Bowls. Photo: I Freeland

  • Nature or cornice triggered slides in Arrowhead and Hardscrabble Bowls. Photo: I Freeland

  • Isolated wind slabs today in the southern Bridgers. Photo: E. Selinger

  • Mar 15 Winds in the Frazier Basin zone were stronger than expected with moderate to strong gusts at the ridge, increasing through the day. We noticed two large windslab pockets that had released since yesterday’s snow. One at the base of Hardscrabble Peak on a N aspect, the other in one of the SE facing gullies that access the Peak 9299/Hollywood Headwall ridge (see photo). 

  • Mountain goat hanging out in Wolverine Bowl

  • Skier triggered wind slab on Northeast slope at 7,450 feet elevation. One skier was caught and carried roughly 10 feet before the slide came to a stop.

  • Skier triggered wind slab on Northeast slope at 7,450 feet elevation. One skier was caught and carried roughly 10 feet before the slide came to a stop.

  • Skier triggered wind slab on Northeast slope at 7,450 feet elevation. One skier was caught and carried roughly 10 feet before the slide came to a stop.

  • Mar 7 obs: "...There was 6" of low density snow from yesterday. Winds were stronger than expected, from the north at the top of the Throne, and increased through the morning.... We found fresh drifts that were reactive, cracking easily and 5-10' wide out from our skis, on south and east facing slopes around 8000-8300'." Photo: GNFAC

  • Mar 7 obs: "...There was 6" of low density snow from yesterday. Winds were stronger than expected, from the north at the top of the Throne, and increased through the morning.... We found fresh drifts that were reactive, cracking easily and 5-10' wide out from our skis, on south and east facing slopes around 8000-8300'." Photo: GNFAC

  • Mar 7 obs: "...There was 6" of low density snow from yesterday. Winds were stronger than expected, from the north at the top of the Throne, and increased through the morning.... We found fresh drifts that were reactive, cracking easily and 5-10' wide out from our skis, on south and east facing slopes around 8000-8300'." Photo: GNFAC

  • Mar 7 obs: "There was 6" of low density snow from yesterday.... The new snow was low density and sluffed easily on steep shady northerlies. On steep slopes facing the sun (south and east, and probably west) the new snow sat on a crust and became moist as the sun warmed it up and started to slide under skis. We saw a couple very small natural loose snow slides below rock outcrops on south facing slopes. Air temperatures were well below freezing, especially with wind chill, but the sun quickly warmed the recent new snow." Photo: GNFAC

  • From obs on 3/4/25:

    "Saw a few sluffs in the new snow triggered by skiers in the very steep terrain just north of the Bridger Bowl ski area boundary (see photo). These sluffs were small, definitely not large enough to bury someone."

  • Observed multiple wet loose slides naturally triggering and running on south facing slopes beyond bradleys and on the south facing aspects of hourglass chute.

  • Observed multiple wet loose slides naturally triggering and running on south facing slopes beyond bradleys and on the south facing aspects of hourglass chute. Photo: T McGarry

  • From obs.: "Saw a recent cornice triggered wind slab off of Hardscrabble Peak, crown looked fairly fresh. There was a second crown line below the rock band. Conditions were very windy, with snow still being transported. Most snow surfaces were wind affected, but saw no cracking or collapsing." Photo: F. Miller

  • Skiers triggered a medium sized cornice fall that triggered a dry loose (sluff) avalanche that created large powder cloud.

  • Toured out to Frazier Basin and turned around seeing widespread avalanches and active wind loading. Despite our pits on the Throne the day before showing no weak layers, the amount of wind loading and potential for slabs over density changes gave us pause. Good skiing and sledding down low.

  • Toured out to Frazier Basin and turned around seeing widespread avalanches and active wind loading. Despite our pits on the Throne the day before showing no weak layers, the amount of wind loading and potential for slabs over density changes gave us pause. Good skiing and sledding down low.

  • Cornice broke in between north and south saddle peaks.  The initial propagation width was hard to distinguish.  Maybe 50 feet.  About 18 inches deep at height of crown.  Photo: Anonymous

     

  • Skiers saw three natural slides south of the throne today. All east facing. Photo: I Freeland

  • Skiers saw three natural slides south of the throne today. All east facing. Photo: I Freeland

  • Skiers saw three natural slides south of the throne today. All east facing. Photo: I Freeland

  • On a cold day we rode to Frazier Basin and quickly answered the question, “Are wind slab avalanches still possible or have they stabilized?” We saw a natural avalanche (R2, D1.5) that released on a steep headwall just to the south (I believe I’ve heard this referred to as October Bowl). Photo: GNFAC

  • Feb 7 We saw a couple storm slabs that broke in today's snow 4-6" deep, 10-30' wide, and we triggered one 3-4" deep wind slab, "remotely", from a few feet back on a small ridgeline. R2-D1. These slabs were very soft, F- to F hard. Photo: GNFAC

  • Feb 7 We saw a couple storm slabs that broke in today's snow 4-6" deep, 10-30' wide, and we triggered one 3-4" deep wind slab, "remotely", from a few feet back on a small ridgeline. R2-D1. These slabs were very soft, F- to F hard. Photo: GNFAC

     

  • 200ft wide and rather shallow, did not manage to run fully into the apron. 

  • This was a small remote trigger next to the skin track, about 20 feet wide by 10 feet long.  Photo: K Gordon

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

  • Tonight

    Tonight: A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly after 10pm.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. North northwest wind around 7 mph becoming west southwest in the evening.  Total nighttime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

    Low: 22 °F

    Chance Snow

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Snow.  High near 35. West southwest wind 7 to 13 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    High: 35 °F

    Chance Snow
    then Snow

  • Thursday Night

    Thursday Night: Snow.  Low around 21. North northwest wind 14 to 17 mph becoming northeast after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

    Low: 21 °F

    Snow

  • Friday

    Friday: A 20 percent chance of snow before noon.  Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. East northeast wind around 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

    High: 30 °F

    Slight Chance
    Snow then
    Mostly Sunny

  • Friday Night

    Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 17. Northwest wind 7 to 11 mph becoming south after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.

    Low: 17 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 40. West wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

    High: 40 °F

    Sunny

  • Saturday Night

    Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Southwest wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

    Low: 27 °F

    Partly Cloudy

  • Sunday

    Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 47. Southwest wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

    High: 47 °F

    Sunny

  • Sunday Night

    Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31.

    Low: 31 °F

    Mostly Clear

The Last Word

Hyalite Road Closure 

The Hyalite Canyon Road is closed to ALL MOTORIZED VEHICLES until the morning of May 16. This is a regular annual road closure to reduce road damage during the spring thaw. Bicycle and foot traffic are allowed. Contact the Bozeman FS Ranger District for more info.

04 / 1 / 25  <<  
 
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