Bridger Range

Avalanches are unlikely this morning, while melt-freeze crusts at the surface of the snowpack remain intact. As these crusts melt in the warm spring sun, wet snow avalanches starting at a point will entrain significant snow volume as they avalanche and gouge into the season’s snowpack. Sinking into wet, slushy snow more than a few inches indicates destabilizing conditions. Timing and terrain selection are the keys to managing wet snow instability. Travel early in the day while temperatures are at their coolest, or head to higher elevation, north-facing terrain that remains shadier and cooler throughout the day, as long as you have a safe exit route.

Temperatures dropped to near freezing in most mountain locations last night, and there should be a supportable melt-freeze crust this morning. Avalanches are unlikely while this melt-freeze crust remains intact.

As temperatures climb above freezing and crusts melt, wet loose avalanches will start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill. Yesterday, in the wilderness area north of Cooke City, we watched several wet loose avalanches pour off the warming cliffs, and another group observed a natural avalanche large enough to injure or potentially bury a skier or rider (observation). This weekend, skiers in the Bridger Range were seeing wet snow avalanches as early as 10 AM (South Bowl, Bridger Gully).

Today, look for wet, slushy snow more than a few inches deep and rollerballs as indicators of decreasing stability. With calm conditions and a strong April sun, the surface crust will begin to break down in the morning, and conditions will deteriorate in the afternoon. As the snowpack becomes unsupportable, some slides may gouge deeply into the season’s snowpack. Cooler temperatures and increasing cloud cover will limit wet snow instability in the Cooke City area.

Timing and terrain selection are the keys to managing wet snow instability. Travel early in the day while temperatures are at their coolest, or head to higher elevation, north-facing terrain that remains shadier and cooler, as long as you have a safe exit route.

With calm conditions and warm temperatures, slabs of wind-drifted snow that formed Friday and Saturday are stabilizing quickly, and wind slab avalanches are unlikely. However, with significant activity just a few days ago, consider a few questions if you are traveling in previously wind-loaded terrain: Are there any signs of instability? What are the consequences of an avalanche should one release? And, what is the backup plan (are we following safe travel practices)? Look at our avalanche log for examples of recent wind slab avalanches.

The avalanche danger will start the day at LOW while surface crusts are intact, and rise to MODERATE as warm temperatures melt the upper layers of the snowpack.

NOTE: Bridger Bowl Ski Area is closed for the season, and uphill travel is now permitted. Ski patrol is no longer performing avalanche mitigation or performing mountain rescue. Be prepared to help others and call 911 for assistance (video).