Skier Triggered and Carried by Avalanche in โ€˜The Great Oneโ€™ Couloir, Northern Bridger Range, MT

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avalanche crown
Credit: GNFAC

A skier triggered and was carried by an avalanche in โ€œThe Great Oneโ€ on Sacagawea Peak in the northern Bridger Range, the Friends of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center reported yesterday. The avalanche is the first skier-triggered slide in Montana of the 23/24 winter season.

The wind slab slide was triggered roughly halfway down the couloir, where the right wall dips away, exposing the snow to wind. Hard consolidated snow over facets, roughly 1-1.5 ft thick, ran about 50-100 ft before pouring over the cliff faces below. The skier was carried 15-20 feet before self-arresting.

avalanche location in the great one couloir montana
Credit: GNFAC

This is a good reminder that although the valley snow has melted, itโ€™s been snowing and blowing up high, so be cautious if youโ€™re seeking out the handful of spots with enough snow to eke out some turns. Those are the same spots where you could trigger a slide.

Sacagawea Peak is the highest mountain in the Bridger Range in southwestern Montana and is about 30 miles north of Bozeman.

avalanche crown
Credit: GNFAC

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