Bridger snowpack running thin, patience running thinner

The Bozeman area has seen an especially dry winter this 2023-24 season. Up at Bridger Bowl, the impact of this drought has raised questions for the skiers and snowboarders amongst us. All those ranging from patrollers and athletes to more casual hobbyists are being forced to confront and make do with a suboptimal snowpack. 

Richard Griffen, snow safety director of the Bridger Bowl ski patrol, is currently working his 29th season up at the hill. He claims that this is one of the lowest snowpacks he’s ever seen for this time in the year and that it's looking sparse all around. 

“Usually in a thin year, it’s thin down low but better up top, and this year it's just been thin all the way to the top which is sort of an anomaly,” Griffen said.

Griffen and other patrollers make daily observations of the mountain's base depth from their weather station located at the bottom of the apron, towards the northern end of the ski area boundary above the Alpine lift. According to Griffen, Jan. closed out with around a 30-inch base depth at this location – the second-lowest recorded base depth to end the month ever, according to seasonal data dating back to the 1967-68 winter season.

Griffen explained how the thin snowpack is not just a product of low snowfall alone. High temperatures have led to snow melt, and low moisture content in the snow that has fallen prevents it from adhering properly and keeping on the mountain.

The effects of all this are tangible for many, including Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF) athlete Makayla Papke, who claims the low snowpack has impeded her training for the BSF Freestyle Mogul Team, a group of skiers that engage with steep and heavily moguled terrain where they make quick turns and complete aerial maneuvers.

“It delayed us severely. The training has been minimal. Because the conditions are unsafe we were unable to practice aerial tricks until recently,” Papke said.

Papke, who was born and raised in Bozeman, said this is the worst snow she’s ever experienced.

“This is the lowest I’ve seen in my 18 years of skiing Bridger,” Papke explained. “I am afraid to ski above Bridger Midway.” 

While conditions are less than ideal, those who do choose to brace the elements and try their luck at the hill can improve their experience and avoid danger by skiing cautiously. Griffen encourages skiers to tread lightly, especially when theres fresh or untouched snow covering the already thin base. 

“Ski cautiously. We have a lot of stuff to hit. Even if it snows a foot or two, that’s just gonna make it worse,” Griffen explained.  “It's really surprising when we open Schlasman’s — you always get people flying around and leaping off stuff. And the reality is, there’s two to three feet of snow at best and you get hurt really easily.”

High temperatures proved to be hazardous this past Monday as the ski hill was forced to close a variety of terrain due to extreme warmth and wet slide activity, Griffen said. Pierre’s Knob, Powder Park, Schlasman’s and the upper Bridger lift were all shut down. Although Pierre’s Knob and Powder Park re-opened the following day, Schlasman’s and the upper Bridger lift remained closed through the end of Jan., according to the Bridger Bowl website.  

“Just have fun, but be cautious. It’s not worth getting hurt over marginal ski conditions,” Griffen said. “It’s gonna get better, and maybe it’ll flip and be a great March, but at this point just take it easy, enjoy yourselves and have fun without ending up in the hospital.”