Wind was ripping on the ridge and creating hard wind slabs 3-6” in depth. Without much new snow to transport they weren’t very large or widespread, but we got cracking and propagation on a steeper terrain feature (Hidden) near the ridge that led to us skiing a different line. The slab development was also found in isolated areas further down from the ridge in cross loaded gullies, but slabs were isolated to breaking at the skis.
Skiers triggered several very thin avalanches in the northern Bridger Range on 11/21/24. They broke only a couple inches deep on windloaded slopes, mostly in north facing couloirs.
A small avalanche released in the northern bridger range on Sunday.
From obs: "I dug a quick pit just off from the ridge and noted an HS of 55cm with an 3cm decomposing crust about 29cm up from the ground. Snowpack ranged from fist hardness down to 1 finger at the base. And though the grains at the ground had some edges and corners, I did not note truly faceted snow at the base."
Photo: H. Darby
Wind was ripping on the ridge and creating hard wind slabs 3-6” in depth. Photo: C. Avis
A small avalanche released in the northern bridger range on Sunday. Photo: Amelia
A small avalanche released in the northern bridger range on Sunday. Photo: Amelia
Snowboarders in the northern Bridger Range found a thin snowpack with wind slabs layered on wind slabs. Photo: Z. Bailey
Snowboarders in the northern Bridger Range found a thin snowpack with wind slabs layered on wind slabs. Photo: Z. Bailey
Thin storm slabs in the entrance to Hidden Gully. Photo: M. Beck
Small storm slabs in Hidden Gully. Photo: M. Beck
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
Natural avalanche in Z-chute. observed 11/9. date of activity unknown.
At 8000' just below the Sacajawea trail bowl, there is about 9" of snow.
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 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
Skiers spotted a skier-triggered avalanche from a distance. Photo: R. Cigler
Snowpit at Bridger Bowl on 11/5. Photo: B. VandenBos
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
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
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
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
Screenshots of webcams throughout the forecast area show new snow and snow cover on November 1.
From obs: "1-3 mm faceting in front of the Montage. Clear skys and mid 20 temps"
On October 17, rain turned to snow and blanketed the mountains of southwest Montana with a fresh coat of snow. Photo: Yellowstone Club 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
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
Tonight
Low: 15 °F
Mostly Clear
Monday
High: 29 °F
Sunny
Monday Night
Low: 23 °F
Mostly Cloudy
Tuesday
High: 28 °F
Chance Snow
Tuesday Night
Low: 17 °F
Chance Snow
then Mostly
Cloudy
Wednesday
High: 24 °F
Mostly Sunny
Wednesday Night
Low: 14 °F
Chance Snow
Thanksgiving Day
High: 24 °F
Slight Chance
Snow then
Mostly Sunny
Thursday Night
Low: 15 °F
Mostly Cloudy
Read accident reports from previous early-season accidents before you venture to the snowy hills. This accident report from October 2012 in the northern Bridger Range, and this report from the tragic fatality six years ago in early October are reminders of the potential consequences of even a small avalanche.
