Trip Planning for Bridgers

as of 5:00 am
Today0″ | 25-35 W
Apr 5 1″ | 10-20 W
Apr 4 7″ | 15-25 E
8100′     04/06 at 21:00
33℉
0″New
8500′     04/06 at 21:00
35℉
W - 15mph
Gusts 22 mph
Primary Problem: Loose Wet
Bottom Line: Today the two main avalanche problems you might encounter are wind slab avalanches and wet loose avalanches. Yesterday wind slabs were notably more reactive than expected, despite having had some time to stabilize since snowfall tapered off a couple days ago. Don’t trust old drifts today, and expect any fresh drifts to be easy to trigger. Expect the snow surface to get weaker through the day, especially on slopes that receive direct sunshine. Moist sticky snow or roller-balls on the surface mean it is time to find lower angle terrain or slopes with colder, dry snow on the surface. The sunshine and heat will also make cornice falls possible. Minimize your time on slopes below cornices and stay far back from the edge while travelling on ridgelines above them.

Past 5 Days

Wed Apr 2

Moderate
Thu Apr 3

Moderate
Fri Apr 4

Moderate
Sat Apr 5

Moderate
Today

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Bridger Range
Bridger Peak
natural loose snow slides in Bridgers
Incident details include images
Bridger Peak
L-N-R1-D1.5
Elevation: 8,500
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.7701, -110.9400
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Observed multiple D1-1.5 natural dry loose avalanches (and some tiny wind slab pockets under the ridge cornice) that likely occurred during peak warming around 2-3 PM. North/sheltered aspects from ~9- 8.5k held an average of 8+ inches of dry, drifted snow. Early AM to mid-afternoon, very active wind transport followed by tapered winds and a rapid increase in temp.


More Avalanche Details
Bridger Range
The Great One
Skier carried in wind slab on Naya Nuki
Incident details include images
The Great One
AS-R1-D1.5
Elevation: 9,000
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.8926, -110.9620
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

We went on a tour in the Bridgers today, we ascended the east ridge of Naya Nuki to the entrance of the Great One. Wind was blowing and we were being careful about potential wind slabs up high.

Skier 1 ski cut the top of the chute and produced a small wind slab that ran to the break in the chute and continued another 100 vert down the east apron. After all meeting up halfway down, skier 2 proceeded to ski the E facing apron. A wind slab propagated and carried skier 2 roughly 300 vert down the apron where skier 2 was able to swim out of the fall line and came to a rest on top of the debris. Everyone was okay aside two missing ski poles.

On the way out, we saw a few more small natural wind slabs that broke naturally near ridge lines as well as point and release wet slides.


More Avalanche Details
Bridger Range
Snowboarder triggered wet loose slide in Bridgers
L-AS-R1-D1.5
Elevation: 8,800
Aspect: E
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

A snowobarder tagged us in an IG story of triggering a long running, powerful wet loose slide in the Bridger Range.


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • "We went on a tour in the Bridgers today [Apr 5], we ascended the east ridge of Naya Nuki to the entrance of the Great One. Wind was blowing and we were being careful about potential wind slabs up high.

    Skier 1 ski cut the top of the chute and produced a small wind slab that ran to the break in the chute and continued another 100 vert down the east apron. After all meeting up halfway down, skier 2 proceeded to ski the E facing apron. A wind slab propagated and carried skier 2 roughly 300 vert down the apron where skier 2 was able to swim out of the fall line and came to a rest on top of the debris. Everyone was okay aside two missing ski poles."

  • From BBSP: " At 2.45?pm [Apr 5] a... solo skier triggered a wind loaded pocket on the main face of Saddle Peak that ran down over the cliff and produced an impressive powder cloud.... I met him... and confirm he was alone and no one was in front of him. The avalanche looked to be 2' deep on the southern flank and 5" deep on the northern flank... It entrained more snow on the way down, one 2' deep downhill wind loaded pocket and some loose wet snow. It ran into the bottom of the going home chute, gouging a large hole and then 100ft downhill left a 200ft by 30ft wide shallow debris pile."

  • (Apr 5) "...Also observed one small wind slab occurring between Saddle & the Football Field, possibly skier-triggered." Photo: G. Antonioli

  • (Apr 5 ) "Observed multiple D1-1.5 natural dry loose avalanches (and some tiny wind slab pockets under the ridge cornice) that likely occurred during peak warming around 2-3 PM. North/sheltered aspects from ~9- 8.5k held an average of 8+ inches of dry, drifted snow...." Photo: G. Antonioli

  • There was a pair of R1, D1 avalanches on Saddle Peak. One appears to be a loose snow avalanche triggered by a skier coming off of north Saddle Peak That ran a couple hundred feet. The second was a small slab coming out of Spencer’s with debris running into Going Home Chute. Photo: GNFAC

  • 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

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: Clear, with a low around 33. Southwest wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

    Low: 33 °F

    Clear

  • Monday

    Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Southwest wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.

    High: 54 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Monday Night

    Monday Night: A slight chance of rain before 8pm, then a chance of rain and snow.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Southwest wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

    Low: 34 °F

    Slight Chance
    Rain/Snow
    then Chance
    Rain/Snow

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: Snow likely before noon, then snow showers after noon. Some thunder is also possible.  High near 42. West wind 14 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    High: 42 °F

    Snow Showers

  • Tuesday Night

    Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before midnight.  Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 13 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

    Low: 29 °F

    Chance Snow
    and Breezy

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of snow.  Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Breezy, with a west wind 14 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph.  Little or no snow accumulation expected.

    High: 42 °F

    Chance Snow
    and Breezy

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 43 mph.

    Low: 37 °F

    Partly Cloudy
    and Breezy
    then Mostly
    Clear

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

    High: 53 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Thursday Night

    Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.

    Low: 39 °F

    Mostly Cloudy

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 / 5 / 25  <<  
 
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