Trip Planning for Bridgers

as of 5:00 am
Mar 180″ | 15-25 W
Mar 17 0″ | 10-30 NE
Mar 16 0″ | 15-20 E
8100′     03/19 at 03:00
33℉
0″New
8500′     03/19 at 03:00
33℉
W - 11mph
Gusts 23 mph
Primary Problem: Persistent Weak Layer
Bottom Line: Large avalanches breaking deep in the snowpack on persistent weak layers and wet, loose snow avalanches are possible in the mountains across the advisory area. Lower-angle avalanche terrain and slopes with clean runouts and without terrain traps are the best options if you choose to play the odds. Follow safe travel practices, including traveling one at a time while a partner remains in position for rescue. Get off any steep terrain before the surface snow gets wet in more than the upper few inches. This process will happen faster in lower elevations so ensure safe egress options.

Past 5 Days

Thu Mar 14

Moderate
Fri Mar 15

Moderate
Sat Mar 16

Moderate
Sun Mar 17

Moderate
Mon Mar 18

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Bridger Range
Frazier Basin
Loose wet in Frazier
Incident details include images
Frazier Basin
WL-N-R1-D1
Elevation: 8,500
Aspect: SE
Coordinates: 45.9233, -110.9800
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

We saw a few natural wet loose avalanches run throughout the middle of the day in sunny, steep rocky terrain.


More Avalanche Details
Bridger Range
Frazier Basin
Loose Wet Avalanche in the Bridgers
Incident details include images
Frazier Basin
WL-N
Aspect: SE
Coordinates: 45.9233, -110.9800
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From obs: "Skied into Frazier basin today. Saw multiple wet loose slides on the SE face across the basin. Winds were stripping many ridge lines and loading N aspects. No avalanches related to wind loading were observed. Pit at the bottom of the basin on a SE aspect around 8200 feet had HS 185 and showed Ectx."


More Avalanche Details
Bridger Range
The Throne
Rollerballs at the Throne
Incident details include images
The Throne
WL-N
Elevation: 8,500
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.8822, -110.9520
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From IG 3/9/24: "Currently on the throne. Things warmed up quickly this morning. Wet loose, east aspect, 8500’, 10:30"


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • 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

  • Riders in the Bridger range saw several loose snow avalanches that happened this afternoon in steep terrain on Hardscrabble Peak. Photo: K. Marvinney

  • A skier at Bridger Bowl noticed a small wind slab avalanche on quarter saddle. The slide ran 250 vertical feet and broke 100+ feet wide. Photo: D. Zinn

  • Where did the snow go? 50+ mph wind scoured the slopes near Bridger Peak. Photo: GNFAC

  • This avalanche was noticed yesterday morning (2/20), possibly happened on 2/18-2/19, or early 2/20. Photo: GNFAC

  • This avalanche was noticed yesterday morning (2/20), possibly happened on 2/18-2/19. Photo: GNFAC

  • Skiers on 02/20/2024 saw a recent natural avalanche in Argentina Bowl. Photo: Anonymous 

  • Photo: BBSP

  • On 2/1/24 on a drive up the highway I could see many recent wet avalanches, both wet loose that gouged through the snowpack and wet slabs about one foot deep and 50-100' wide. Many size D2, some smaller. Happened sometime between Monday and today (1-3 days old, maybe some this morning). The main spots for recent wet avalanches were on Bridger Peak (this photo) and south of the Throne. Photo: GNFAC

  • On 2/1/24 on a drive up the highway I could see many recent wet avalanches, both wet loose that gouged through the snowpack and wet slabs about one foot deep and 50-100' wide. Many size D2, some smaller. Happened sometime between Monday and today (1-3 days old, maybe some this morning). The main spots for recent wet avalanches were on Bridger Peak and south of the Throne. Photo: GNFAC

  • On 2/1/24 saw a wide crown north of Frazier Basin(300-400' wide). Not sure if it occurred recently with the above freezing temperatures or if older. could have occurred over the recent hot days, potentially triggered by cornice fall? Photo: GNFAC

  • On 2/1/24 saw this wide crown in Frazier Basin (300-400' wide)... not sure if these occurred recently with the above freezing temperatures or if they are older.  could have occurred over the recent hot days, potentially triggered by cornice fall? Photo: GNFAC

  • Driving up Bridger Canyon we saw wet loose avalanche across the whole range that ran yesterday afternoon (1/29). Some of the slides north of Ross Peak appear to have gouged down to the ground, entraining the whole season's snowpack. Photo: GNFAC 1/30/24

  • An older, previously reported slide that broke widely was still visible in October Bowl. Photo: GNFAC 1/30/24

  • Numerous wet loose avalanches on the south facing wall of Frazier, many of which appear to have pulled out dry slabs lower in the path as they ran yesterday afternoon (1/29/24). Photo: GNFAC 1/30/24

  • Skiers triggered an avalanche on Bridger Peak after knocking a cornice off the ridgeline. 

    From obs: "Slide seemed to start very slowly and then propagated North (to the left in the pictures) before running down the slide path." Photo: Anonymous

  • Skiers triggered an avalanche on Bridger Peak after knocking a cornice off the ridgeline. 

    From obs: "Slide seemed to start very slowly and then propagated North (to the left in the pictures) before running down the slide path." Photo: Anonymous 

  • From obs: "The location is the knoll under the Saddle Peak cliff that can be accessed by traversing through the southern boundary gate from Bridger Bowl. The slide propagated on a NE aspect going into a gully. The crown looked to be 1-2 feet tall with an approximate width of 30 feet. There are numerous tracks that go in and out of the slide path, but could not tell if it was triggered by a skier. A friend who I was with said that the slide had not been there the day before." 

  • From obs: "The location is the knoll under the Saddle Peak cliff that can be accessed by traversing through the southern boundary gate from Bridger Bowl. The slide propagated on a NE aspect going into a gully. The crown looked to be 1-2 feet tall with an approximate width of 30 feet. There are numerous tracks that go in and out of the slide path, but could not tell if it was triggered by a skier. A friend who I was with said that the slide had not been there the day before." 

  • From obs: "The location is the knoll under the Saddle Peak cliff that can be accessed by traversing through the southern boundary gate from Bridger Bowl. The slide propagated on a NE aspect going into a gully. The crown looked to be 1-2 feet tall with an approximate width of 30 feet. There are numerous tracks that go in and out of the slide path, but could not tell if it was triggered by a skier. A friend who I was with said that the slide had not been there the day before." 

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

  • Today

    Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. West northwest wind 10 to 13 mph.

    Mostly Sunny

    High: 55 °F

  • Tonight

    Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. West wind 7 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight.

    Partly Cloudy

    Low: 32 °F

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 53. Breezy, with a west wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon.

    Sunny then
    Mostly Sunny
    and Breezy

    High: 53 °F

  • Wednesday
    Night

    Wednesday Night: A slight chance of rain before 10pm, then a chance of rain and snow between 10pm and 4am, then a chance of snow after 4am.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Breezy, with a southwest wind 17 to 22 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight.  Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Chance
    Rain/Snow and
    Breezy

    Low: 32 °F

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Snow, mainly after 7am.  High near 44. Windy, with a south southwest wind 10 to 20 mph becoming west 23 to 33 mph. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

    Snow and
    Windy

    High: 44 °F

  • Thursday
    Night

    Thursday Night: Snow.  Low around 27. Windy, with a west wind 23 to 33 mph decreasing to 10 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

    Snow and
    Windy

    Low: 27 °F

  • Friday

    Friday: Snow likely, mainly after 1pm.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Southwest wind 9 to 11 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Snow Likely

    High: 40 °F

  • Friday
    Night

    Friday Night: Snow.  Cloudy, with a low around 24. East southeast wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

    Snow

    Low: 24 °F

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Snow.  Cloudy, with a high near 37.

    Snow

    High: 37 °F

The Last Word

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center, the Avalanche Research Program at Simon Fraser University and the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research are conducting research to examine how backcountry recreationists, including skiers, mountain snowmobilers, snowshoers and ice climbers, interpret avalanche forecast information. They aim to better understand how useful different kinds of avalanche forecast information are for trip planning. To participate, take the Colorado Avalanche Information Center survey.

03 / 17 / 24  <<  
 
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