Trip Planning for Bridgers

From obs 5/23/24: "shooting cracks in the top 4 to 5 inches of new snow in middle basin" Photo: N. Greiner

From obs 5/23/24: "Toured to the top of PK during today’s storm. Snow was very wet and heavy. We saw no other slides or signs of instability on the way up. Coming down skiers right of flippers, all 3 of us caused small slides and cracking within the new snow. I triggered the largest slide, which was 6-8” deep and 12’ wide." Photo: T. Jordan

From email 5/8/24: "A few snaps from today. Observed several D2 slides between sluice box and the nose. I didn't see the toe of these slides, but it looked like there were running with some speed into mid elevation terrain. Slabs were most common in winded terrain, but slides flanked out on new/old interface and 4/26 crust (these layers are not very far apart) even in sheltered middle elevation terrain. Visibility was poor, but I'd expect to see similar large slides in steep, winded terrain" Photo: B. VandenBos

From email 5/8/24: "A few snaps from today. Observed several D2 slides between sluice box and the nose. I didn't see the toe of these slides, but it looked like there were running with some speed into mid elevation terrain. Slabs were most common in winded terrain, but slides flanked out on new/old interface and 4/26 crust (these layers are not very far apart) even in sheltered middle elevation terrain. Visibility was poor, but I'd expect to see similar large slides in steep, winded terrain" Photo: B. VandenBos

From email 5/8/24: "A few snaps from today. Observed several D2 slides between sluice box and the nose. I didn't see the toe of these slides, but it looked like there were running with some speed into mid elevation terrain. Slabs were most common in winded terrain, but slides flanked out on new/old interface and 4/26 crust (these layers are not very far apart) even in sheltered middle elevation terrain. Visibility was poor, but I'd expect to see similar large slides in steep, winded terrain" Photo: B. VandenBos

A skier near the top of the Alpine Lift at Bridger Bowl ski area took a photo of three avalanche crowns near Peter’s Point. Photo: P Hinz

On 5/4/24 Skiers triggered large wet loose slides on the Fin near Cooke City

From email 5/2/24: "Triggered in the virtues this evening. 40' wide, 4-12" deep, failed as a dense, wind-packed slab on the rain/sun/heat crust underneath the most recent snow.  I had marginal visibility but it looked like there were similar small-ish wind pockets that had failed in a few spots. Good skiing up high, fun first day up there."

From obs 4/25/24: "Came across a relatively large wet avalanche when approaching Texas meadows from Bradley’s meadows. Elevation around 7600ft, aspect, SSE. Depth: to ground. Considering the new snow on top of the debris, I’m guessing this slid prior to the storm last week. The slide path was melted out to dirt. Out of curiosity, we dug just to the lookers right of the slide and found soft snow near the ground - still evidence of crystal structure but could make a snowball if squeezed. Best guess is that a point release wet slide entrained enough snow to step down and release the whole face." Photo: A. Kautzer

From obs 4/25/24: "Came across a relatively large wet avalanche when approaching Texas meadows from Bradley’s meadows. Elevation around 7600ft, aspect, SSE. Depth: to ground. Considering the new snow on top of the debris, I’m guessing this slid prior to the storm last week. The slide path was melted out to dirt. Out of curiosity, we dug just to the lookers right of the slide and found soft snow near the ground - still evidence of crystal structure but could make a snowball if squeezed. Best guess is that a point release wet slide entrained enough snow to step down and release the whole face." Photo: A. Kautzer

On sunday 4/14 a large wet loose avalanche ran naturally in closed terrain at Bridger. The larger of the two in the photo, on the right, is from 4/14 at 1230pm. The other slide, on the left, happened yesterday (4/13) or late in the day Friday. Photo: BBSP

On 4/13/24 There were many loose wet avalanches that ran over the last 1-3 days. They appeared to involved the upper 6-12" of the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

On 4/13/24 There were many loose wet avalanches that ran over the last 1-3 days. They appeared to involved the upper 6-12" of the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

On 4/13/24 There were many loose wet avalanches that ran over the last 1-3 days. They appeared to involved the upper 6-12" of the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

On 4/13/24 There were many loose wet avalanches that ran over the last 1-3 days. They appeared to involved the upper 6-12" of the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

On 4/13/24 There were many loose wet avalanches that ran over the last 1-3 days. They appeared to involved the upper 6-12" of the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

On 4/13/24 There were many loose wet avalanches that ran over the last 1-3 days. They appeared to involved the upper 6-12" of the snowpack. Photo: GNFAC

Driving home from Bridger Bowl, I spotted a number of wet, loose avalanches in Argentina Bowl. It was 1:30 PM when I saw them, and the sun was still blazing. I would expect there was more activity as the afternoon progressed. Photo: GNFAC

Driving home from Bridger Bowl, I spotted a number of wet, loose avalanches in Argentina Bowl. It was 1:30 PM when I saw them, and the sun was still blazing. I would expect there was more activity as the afternoon progressed. Photo: GNFAC

From IG message: “Rode the banana today.. lots of fast moving sluff. Had a mid elevation pocket pop. New snow seemed to have bonded well, the spot that did pop had formed into 12” slab below rock face.”

From IG message: “Rode the banana today.. lots of fast moving sluff. Had a mid elevation pocket pop. New snow seemed to have bonded well, the spot that did pop had formed into 12” slab below rock face.”

Skiers triggered this avalanche on a north-facing slope near the Anger Lake basin.  The crown was 4-18 inches deep and propagated the entire width of the gully ~40 feet and ran the entire length of the gully ~500 vertical feet. The skier was able to ski out of the avalanche right as it broke and was not carried. Photo: Anonymous

Skiers triggered this avalanche on a north-facing slope near the Anger Lake basin.  The crown was 4-18 inches deep and propagated the entire width of the gully ~40 feet and ran the entire length of the gully ~500 vertical feet. The skier was able to ski out of the avalanche right as it broke and was not carried. Photo: Anonymous

The largest skier-triggered avalanche that we saw today. The crown extended out of frame below steep rocks. This avalanche broke ~1' deep within the recent storm snow. R2/D2. Photo: GNFAC

The largest skier-triggered avalanche that we saw today. The crown extended out of frame below steep rocks. This avalanche broke ~1' deep within the recent storm snow. R2/D2. Photo: GNFAC

The largest skier-triggered avalanche that we saw today. The crown extended out of frame below steep rocks. This avalanche broke ~1' deep within the recent storm snow. R2/D2. Photo: GNFAC

One of several skier-triggered avalanches that broke within the recent storm snow, ~1' deep. R2/D1.5. Photo: GNFAC

One of several skier-triggered avalanches that broke within the recent storm snow, ~1' deep. R2/D1.5. Photo: GNFAC

Riders saw this recent storm slab avalanche while riding near Fairy Lake. This avalanche was triggered by riders not in their group. Photo: Anonymous

Skiers in the Love Chutes triggered this avalanche after a ski cut produced no results. Further down the chute, the first skier triggered an 18" wind slab avalanche. They were carried 200' before self-arresting and were uninjured. Photo: Anonymous 

Skiers in the Love Chutes triggered this avalanche after a ski cut produced no results. Further down the chute, the first skier triggered an 18" wind slab avalanche. They were carried 200' before self-arresting and were uninjured. Photo: Anonymous 

A skier triggered a small avalanche on a steep north-facing pitch at the Throne, but it did not run far. Photo: GNFAC

While ski touring in Frazier Basin we saw at least 12 recent loose wet avalanches on east and south aspects. Most of them started near exposed rocks and entrained the upper 6" of wet snow. Photo: GNFAC

Loose wet avalanches on the east face of the October Bowl from 04/02/2024. Photo: GNFAC

A large slab avalanche behind the Nose. Photo: GNFAC

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