Loose Wet
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1–1.5
Avalanche forecast
View on mapBridger Range
Gallatin NF Avalanche Center
Avalanche danger
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.
Highlights
Wet loose avalanches are the main problem today as the snow heats up and becomes wet. This may happen at all elevations in the Bridger Range. Ride this morning and head home as the snow gets wet or turn to more northerly facing slopes to avoid wet avalanches.
Avalanche problems
Avalanche Discussion
Cloudy skies limited heating yesterday, and the snow didn’t get as wet as I had anticipated. It should be different today. In many places this morning, temperatures are only a few degrees cooler than yesterday’s high temperatures.
Watch for pinwheels and wet snowballs rolling downhill as a sign the snow is getting wet. These are clues that wet loose avalanches may start happening soon. The greatest threat is having one tumble down on you especially in a confined gully. The wet snow avalanche danger will rise to MODERATE today. Go to higher elevations or shaded northerly facing slopes with dry snow to avoid this problem.
Now is a great time to play golf :) or get up high into avalanche terrain. The danger of dry snow avalanches is LOW. However, I’d be most worried about old wind slabs, especially if they are resting on weak facets that formed on the snow surface during dry weather in January. Normally old wind slabs would stabilize, but with some faceted snow under them, you may still find one that’ll slide especially near Cooke City (like this one). That faceted snow may also cause dry loose sluffs in steep terrain.
READ THIS: Starting Monday it’ll be time to shift our mindset to “stepping back”. During much of January, the snow surface became weak and faceted. In many places snowfall late in January capped this weak layer and preserved it, even in high traffic areas as Dave found on Saddle Peak in the Bridger Range (video). Scroll through all of our recent short videos to get a sense of this layer. The avalanche danger will be rising and we will have a new persistent slab avalanche problem as snow accumulates next week.
King and Queen of The Ridge Fund-Raiser
Do you love hiking the Ridge? Are you passionate about sliding on snow? Then this event is calling your name. Hike, ski, ride, and raise money while enjoying the camaraderie & great community vibes at Bridger Bowl.Make sure to sign up in two places, through Bridger Bowl to participate and through our event page for the fundraising part of the event.