GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Apr 20, 2025
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today the snowpack is generally stable and avalanches are unlikely. You might encounter isolated areas of unstable snow just a few inches deep which could be hazardous if a small slide pushes you into rocks, trees or over a cliff. If you travel in steep, higher consequence terrain, be cautious of areas where recent snow has been drifted into a stiffer slab, or where the snow surface becomes wet more than a few inches deep.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Yesterday skiers triggered small wind slab avalanches, 3-6” deep and 10-20’ wide in the northern Bridgers (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/node/34932"><span><span><span><strong><span… and photos</span></span></u></span></strong></span></span></span></a><span><span><span><span><span><span>) and near Cooke City (</span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="https://www.mtavalanche.com/images/25/small-wind-slab-and-dry-loose-sli…;). Today you might encounter similar drifts in areas with a couple inches of new snow, or where snow from earlier in the week remained dry on high, northerly facing slopes.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The new snow from earlier in the week got warm and wet on many slopes yesterday, and the snow surface should be refrozen and stable this morning. Cloudy skies will minimize wet loose avalanche potential today, but above freezing temperatures and possible rain this afternoon will create a wet snow surface in some places. Small wet slides could be triggered in isolated areas, especially where there are a few inches of new snow this morning that could easily become moist with brief sun or above freezing temperatures.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Today the snowpack is generally stable and avalanche danger is LOW. Be on the lookout for isolated areas of unstable wet snow and small drifts, and consider the consequences of being knocked over by a small slide.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
Hyalite Road Closure
The Hyalite Canyon Road is closed to ALL MOTORIZED VEHICLES until May 16. This is a regular annual road closure to reduce road damage during the spring thaw. Bicycle and foot traffic are allowed.
"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)."
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Apr 21, 2025
Near Cooke City on 4/19 skiers triggered a dry loose avalanche and a small wind slab avalanche. The wind slab broke in a drifted pocket near the base of cliffs, 3-6" deep x 10' wide. Northeast aspect, 10,200'. Photo: GNFAC
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sun Apr 20, 2025GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Apr 21, 2025
small wind slab and dry loose slides
Near Cooke City on 4/19 skiers triggered a dry loose avalanche and a small wind slab avalanche. The wind slab broke in a drifted pocket near the base of cliffs, 3-6" deep x 10' wide. Northeast aspect, 10,200'.
Skier-triggered small soft slab, northern Bridger Range
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!
Wet loose in northern bridgers
Meant to submit this 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.
"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
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Apr 21, 2025
GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Sat Apr 19, 2025
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>This morning, the snowpack is mostly stable and avalanches are unlikely. Wind drifts of recent snow will mostly have bonded and be unreactive. Stay alert in case you find one that is still unstable. With temperatures well below freezing overnight, wet snow concerns are minimal first thing this morning.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>As the day heats up, warm temperatures and intense sunshine will destabilize the recent snow, particularly on slopes facing towards the sun. Expect to trigger </span></span></span></span></span></span><span><span><span><strong><span><span>Wet Loose avalanches </span></span></strong></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span><span>if you get onto a steep slope that has been baking in the sun for more than a couple hours. These slides will also release naturally from around exposed rocks on steep slopes. These wet loose slides will mostly be confined to the recent snow, so they won’t be huge, but still plenty big enough to knock you off your feet or push you into rocks or off a cliff. With firm crusts underneath the recent snow, they could run long distances. Be most wary in areas where there is more recent snow or in very steep, consequential terrain where a small slide would have big consequences.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Clouds moving in this afternoon could stop the melt and keep the danger from rising, but it looks like they’re going to develop too late to make a huge difference today.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The avalanche danger will start out at LOW this morning, rising to MODERATE for wet snow as the day heats up.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>With firm surface crusts and without recent snow to destabilize, avalanches are unlikely and the avalanche danger is LOW.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>