First Avalanche of The 2015/2016 Season In Montana
The first avalanche incident of the 2015/2016 season was reported on Thursday, November 5, 2015 by the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. The incident happened near Sacagawea Bowl in the Bridger Range north of Bozeman, Montana.
At approximately 6:50 AM, two hunters were heading over the saddle north of Sacagawea Peak. They triggered an avalanche that “broke 20 feet above them and was 40-50 feet wide. They were carried 300 feet over a series of rocks and cliffs.” One hunter went to the ER and was subsequently released.
The GNFAC issued the season’s first avalanche advisory on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 featuring mountain weather and an avalanche and snowpack discussion. That advisory stated that the “mountains in our area have 18 to 26 inches of snow on the ground. This last storm delivered 12 to 18 inches of dense snow with moderate winds. Avalanches are possible where there is enough snow to ski, and where the wind has loaded slopes and created deeper slabs of snow.” No avalanche rating was issued.
View photos of Sacagawea Bowl from October 31, 2015 here and here.
Stay tuned to the GNFAC for more information.
Here is the avalanche report from GNFAC issued on November 6, 2015.
After a huge snow storm pummeled the Western States this week, it’s time for all backcountry skiers, climbers, snowshoers, and hunters to turn their avalanche radar on. Watch the weather, read the report, and be safe out there! Take an avalanche course this winter and learn more about the hazards of avalanches and backcountry travel.
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Information from the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center:
November 5, 2015 – Sacajawea Bowl
Around 6:50am on Thursday November 5th, two hunters were walking up and over the saddle North of Sacajawea peak. They were on the shoulder of the peak to the North (often referred to as Hardscrabble) when they triggered an avalanche that broke 20 feet above them and was 40-50 feet wide. They were carried 300 feet over a series of rocks and cliffs. One Hunter was injured and went to the ER. He was released and cleared of critical injuries. We will update our website with new information in the next few days.
