Heavy Rains Trigger Landslides at Bridger Bowl
A powerful rainstorm swept through Montana’s Bridger Range on July 29, leaving visible marks on Bridger Bowl Ski Area. According to an Instagram update from the resort, the storm caused several small landslides and severe erosion, scarring the mountain with deep rain runnels and slide debris. We can only wait and see how the damage will manifest under snowpack.
When Water Moves Mountains
Landslides are similar to avalanches, only without snow. However, the same principles of friction and gravity interplay. Not enough friction and too much gravity = slide. Gravity pulls rock, dirt, and debris downhill when the slope’s resistance is no longer enough to hold it in place.
In the case at Bridger Bowl, heavy rainfall acted like snowfall that sets up a storm slab avalanche. Water saturated the ground, adding weight and reducing friction between layers. After crossing the threshold, big chunks of the slope began to slide.
But unlike avalanches, landslides don’t always occur in a flash. Some happen slowly over days, months, or even years, while others, like the ones at Bridger, are sudden and dramatic. After all, snow usually sticks together more than dirt and rock.
A Local Gem with Legendary Terrain
Located just 20 minutes from Bozeman, Bridger Bowl is a community-run nonprofit ski area perched in the heart of Montana’s Bridger Range. It’s long been a cult favorite among expert skiers and locals for its steep, beacon-required ridgeline terrain, deep powder, and unpretentious vibe.
The mountain offers 2,000 skiable acres and boasts a 2,700-foot vertical drop, but it’s the upper terrain, particularly the hike only zones along the Bridger Ridge, that are the mountain's special pull. These upper areas are avalanche-controlled but not patrolled, and require avalanche gear to access.
Bridger Bowl operates independently of any major resort conglomerate, reinvesting its revenue into mountain improvements and educational programs rather than shareholders. In the summer, the area is a gateway for hiking, trail running, and exploring the rugged terrain of the Bridger Range, terrain that, after this storm, looks a little different.
Hazards Persist for Hikers and Visitors
Bridger Bowl is warning hikers, bikers, and other recreational users to exercise caution around the resort, especially on steeper trails and off-trail terrain. The storm may have loosened more rock and debris than is immediately visible, and the potential for additional slides remains.
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The ski area says it is actively assessing the damage and will begin work soon to address the most critical issues. Visitors are encouraged to check Bridger Bowl’s official channels for updates.
Climate Change and the Increasing Risk of Landslides
In their statement, Bridger Bowl acknowledged that events like this are becoming more severe due to climate change. Shifting precipitation patterns, more frequent heavy rainstorms, altered snowpack, increased wildfire activity, and warming temperatures all contribute to destabilizing mountain environments.
The mountain’s post wrapped up with a call to action: “We all have a role to play. These changes can be mitigated by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Stay safe, work together, and take action.”
