Trip Planning for Bridgers

as of 5:00 am
May 10″ | 8-19 W
Apr 30 0″ | 9-20 W
Apr 29 0″ | 15-40 W
8100′     05/05 at 06:00
30℉
2.6″New
8500′     05/07 at 02:00
31℉
SW - 10mph
Gusts 17 mph
Bottom Line: Spring weather can be highly variable and create a mix of avalanche problems to watch out for. Snow conditions and snow stability can change drastically from day to day or hour to hour. Anticipate rapid change and plan accordingly. Plenty of snowfall over the winter with more spring snow to come makes avalanches possible into summer.

Past 5 Days

Mon Apr 21

None
Fri Apr 25

None
Mon Apr 28

None
Fri May 2

None
Mon May 5

None

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Bridger Range
Bridger Bowl
Skier triggered wet Slide off of The Nose
Incident details include images
Bridger Bowl
WL-AS-R2-D1.5
Elevation: 7,800
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.8156, -110.9230
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From obs. “We were above the entrance to Exit Chute and triggered a slough slide that slid down one of the gullies that emptied into PK bowl. It appears to have followed an existing slide path, terminating in the top of what looked to be a significant existing avalanche runout. The slide looks pretty wide but not deep.” 


More Avalanche Details
Bridger Range
Bridger Bowl
Large recent wet loose avalanches at Bridger
Bridger Bowl
WL-N-R2-D2
Elevation: 8,000
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 45.8084, -110.9300
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

From obs.: “Saw many recent looking wet loose avalanches on east facing slopes at Bridger. We got a good look at the debris pile from one in Z chute and it looked big enough to bury a person (D2) and had run far past the cat track into south bowl.

We encountered a lot of variation in ski penetration with ~1' of loose melt forms in places on north and east facing slopes ~8k' in elevation.”


More Avalanche Details
Bridger Range
Northern Bridgers
Skier-triggered small soft slab, northern Bridger Range
Incident details include images
Northern Bridgers
SS-AS-R1-D1-I
Elevation: 7,700
Aspect: NE
Coordinates: 45.9196, -110.9760
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Today (Saturday, 4/19), I triggered a small soft-slab avalanche at about 7,700' on a E-NE aspect on the headwall between Frazier Lake and Angier Lake in the northern Bridgers. The slide was maybe 6" deep, 20' wide and ran 100-200 feet and involved only the new storm snow over the icy, thick crust underneath. No one was caught or injured, though I had a bit of a scare because my dog was right in the path (luckily she outran it). We had gone up with the intention of skiing the Ainger "Love Chutes", but bailed partway up when that whole aspect turned out to be breakable crust. However, we had beta from another party that conditions on the Frazier-Angier headwall were good, so decided to check that out. We skinned up without incident, following a well-set skin track that followed the line of least resistance; snow surface was variable but seemed stable. Coming down, we mostly followed the ascent route, but towards the end I was tempted onto a fun-looking, untracked stash a bit to skier's left, that seemed only a tad steeper than the ascent line. A few turns into this line is when I triggered the slide, right at the steepest part (mid-high 30s). It definitely took me by surprise given that we'd been skiing great, stable powder in the Bridgers the past couple days. No harm done but definitely a good wake-up call! 


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • On May 3 We were above the entrance to Exit Chute and triggered a slough slide that slid down one of the gullies that emptied into PK bowl. It appears to have followed an existing slide path, terminating in the top of what looked to be a significant existing avalanche runout. The slide looks pretty wide but not deep. 

  • We were above the entrance to Exit Chute and triggered a slough slide that slid down one of the gullies that emptied into PK bowl. It appears to have followed an existing slide path, terminating in the top of what looked to be a significant existing avalanche runout. The slide looks pretty wide but not deep. 

  • This wet loose avalanche is a great example of where they often occur. Rocks absorb extra heat from the sun and can quickly melt and destabilize the snow. Either move under areas like this early in the morning (as we did), or if you have to travel under them later in the day, move quickly.

  • "Today (Saturday, 4/19), I triggered a small soft-slab avalanche at about 7,700' on a E-NE aspect on the headwall between Frazier Lake and Angier Lake in the northern Bridgers. The slide was maybe 6" deep, 20' wide and ran 100-200 feet and involved only the new storm snow over the icy, thick crust underneath. No one was caught or injured, though I had a bit of a scare because my dog was right in the path (luckily she outran it)." 

  • "Today (Saturday, 4/19), I triggered a small soft-slab avalanche at about 7,700' on a E-NE aspect on the headwall between Frazier Lake and Angier Lake in the northern Bridgers. The slide was maybe 6" deep, 20' wide and ran 100-200 feet and involved only the new storm snow over the icy, thick crust underneath. No one was caught or injured, though I had a bit of a scare because my dog was right in the path (luckily she outran it)." 

  • "yesterday (4/18), saw this one wet loose slide that naturally started off some rocks. Decent size by the bottom. Other than that, just some spiff. Surprisingly didn’t see any big wind slabs trigger, despite the widespread wind effect in the northern Bridger’s. Lots of wind scour on southerly aspects. Northern aspects had wind loading." Photo: W. Landry

  • Winds were cranking at ridge top elevation, transporting what soft snow there was. Minimal hazard formation. I spotted one fresh wind slab avalanche near Hardscrabble. The slide ran several hundred feet in steep terrain but was very thin (R1,D1). Photo: GNFAC

  • Winds were cranking at ridge top elevation, transporting what soft snow there was. Minimal hazard formation. I spotted one fresh wind slab avalanche near Hardscrabble. Photo: GNFAC

  • "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.

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

  • Overnight

    Overnight: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. South southwest wind 5 to 9 mph.

    Low: 28 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm.  Sunny, with a high near 58. West southwest wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

    High: 58 °F

    Sunny then
    Slight Chance
    T-storms

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm.  Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Southwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

    Low: 43 °F

    Slight Chance
    T-storms then
    Mostly Clear

  • Thursday

    Thursday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon.  Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. West southwest wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

    High: 62 °F

    Mostly Sunny
    then Chance
    Showers

  • Thursday Night

    Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight.  Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. West wind 7 to 10 mph becoming southeast after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

    Low: 41 °F

    Chance
    Showers then
    Mostly Clear

  • Friday

    Friday: Sunny, with a high near 65. South southeast wind 7 to 10 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

    High: 65 °F

    Sunny

  • Friday Night

    Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. West southwest wind 10 to 14 mph becoming southeast in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.

    Low: 46 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Saturday

    Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. South southeast wind around 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.

    High: 69 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Saturday Night

    Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.

    Low: 49 °F

    Slight Chance
    T-storms then
    Mostly Cloudy

The Last Word

We ended our 35th winter in operation after 141 forecasts and ZERO avalanche fatalities, the second winter in a row with no avalanche deaths. The last time this happened was 1988 and 1989. It’s been an incredible season. 

Thank you for all your support! Our success is directly related to support from our community and the Forest Service. Thanks to the readers of the forecast, everyone that sent in observations, took an avalanche class, or donated money, time or gear.  Have a safe spring and summer!

05 / 2 / 25  <<  
 
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