Northern Gallatin

Natural wet slides in Bridger Range

BRIDGER RANGE
Bridger Range
Code
WL-N-R2-D2
Elevation
7500
Aspect Range
E-S-SW
Latitude
45.85120
Longitude
-110.94800
Notes

Skiers observed large wet loose avalanches at Bridger on 4/22

GNFAC forecaster noted many natural wet slides throughout the Bridger Range. D1-D2 in size on E-S aspects from previous days (4/20-4/22). One slide north of Flathead Pass appeared to gouge to the ground and may have been a narrow wet slab. All others were relatively shallow, but some ran far.

Glide cracks opening on the Throne and Glide Plane.

Number caught
0
Number buried
0
Avalanche Type
Wet loose-snow avalanche
Trigger
Natural trigger
R size
2
D size
2
Problem Type
Wet Snow
Images
Glide crack below Bridger Gully
Wet slide at Bridger
Slab Thickness units
centimeters
Single / Multiple / Red Flag
Multiple Avalanches
Advisory Year
19-20

From obs (4/26/20): "....a wet slide from a n-ne couloir up mission creek near elephant head in the absarokas between 10-11:30 this morning. Snow did not freeze over last night and was heavily saturated early this morning before the sun rose." Photo: @laura_delray

Avalanche Details: Natural wet slide in Absarokas
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Apr 27, 2020GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat May 2, 2020
Out of Advisory Area, 2020-04-27
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    • All surfaces except the upper North faces were getting wet and sticky. We observed lots of wet loose avalanches actively happening on SE-E facing slopes. We found some cold buffy snow on north-facing slopes, not amazing skiing. There was one small crown on a steep East facing slope that looked to be from the most recent storm but everything else was loose wet. Small wind slabs from the last snow seemed to be glued down today. Photo: S. Jonas

    Avalanche Details: Many Natural Wet Loose Avalanches in Frazier
    Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Fri Apr 24, 2020GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Apr 27, 2020GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat May 2, 2020
    Bridger Range, 2020-04-20
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    • From IG obs (4/19/20): "Saw quite a few natural wet slides back in Middle Basin over the past two days, April 17-18. Witnessed several break loose naturally after about 2pm on anything from SW to SE slopes." Photo: @joshpelczar

    Avalanche Details: Natural wet loose in Beehive/Middle Basins
    Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Apr 20, 2020GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Apr 27, 2020GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat May 2, 2020
    Northern Madison, 2020-04-20
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    • From obs.(4/17/20): "Today while skiing at the Playground in the Bridgers my party triggered a wet slab on an ESE 33 degree slope at 7,700' (HS-ASu-R1-D1-I). No one was caught or injured. We decided to turn around as the sun was roasting the snow at 11:45 a.m., and picked a low angle slope to ski back to the trail. Skier 2 descended and popped out a slab about 10" thick and 50' wide, but the slide was slow moving at first and he was able to ski away. The slide gained momentum pretty quickly and ran powerfully about 250' down the slope." Photo: M. Talty

    Avalanche Details: Skier triggered wet slab The Playground
    Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Apr 20, 2020
    Bridger Range, 2020-04-17
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    • New Snow Avalanches Bridger Range

    Bridger Bowl
    Bridger Range
    Code
    SS-AS-R2-D1.5-S
    Aspect Range
    SE-NE
    Latitude
    45.81560
    Longitude
    -110.92300
    Notes

    From IG "Natural avalanche in the Apron. Ran Full path"

    From Email, "We just did one run down Ptarmigan.  Winds were cranking out of the north from about Midway Bridger on higher.  Over on the north side of Bronco, there were some wind drifts that were super sensitive and were cracking and sliding into the skin track easily. While skiing the snow felt pretty upside down, similar to what we were seeing on the skin track.  Did a ski cut as I came up to that first rollover that is often rocky early season and triggered a small avalanche.  It cracked easily and slid, but with the fairly gentle slope angles right below that rollover it stopped pretty quickly.  We only did that one run and with the snow as sensitive as it was I wouldn’t have wanted to go up to the ridge today."

    Observed debris from 3 new snow avalanches from the top of Powder Park Lift at Bridger Bowl. Two ran from the Dick's/ Bradley's Rib area across the North Bowl Road and well into North Bowl. One slide on the south edge of Baby Bear came through the trees and stopped 100' above Powder Park Lift. 

     

    Number caught
    0
    Number buried
    0
    Avalanche Type
    Soft slab avalanche
    Trigger
    Skier
    R size
    2
    D size
    1.5
    Bed Surface
    S - Avalanche released within new snow
    Problem Type
    New Snow
    Slab Thickness
    10.0 inches
    Weak Layer Grain type
    Precipitation Particles
    Images
    Two New Snow Avalanches Cross North Bowl Road
    Natural Avalanche in the Apron
    Debris on Schlasman's lift towers
    Slab Thickness units
    inches
    Single / Multiple / Red Flag
    Multiple Avalanches
    Advisory Year
    19-20
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