The chance continues for skiers or riders to trigger avalanches involving weak snow layers that were buried in late November. Although the majority of terrain is stable, areas of unstable snow persist, particularly in very steep terrain in cliffy areas. Newly formed small and shallow wind slabs may also be found around ridge crests at the high elevations.
Slabs can be triggered in very steep terrain features, such as unsupported slopes above cliff bands. These slabs could be soft or hard with depths up to 3 feet at the higher elevations.
The snowpack in the Tetons is the most stable of the three forecast areas. The weak snow from the mid-November dry period has been buried by significant snowfall. The snowpack has adjusted to this load and gained strength. Avalanche occurrences have tapered off and an increasing amount of terrain is safe for recreationalists. Although this strengthening trend is evident, the weak snow layers can still be identified by taking a look at the snowpack structure. Stability tests are still indicating propagation potential. Keep in mind that the other forecast areas are currently different. Just a few miles to the south of the Tetons, the Snake River Range, and the rest of the Southwest Trails area, continues to have sensitive avalanche conditions involving the weak mid-November layer. Natural and remotely triggered avalanches continue to be reported daily. The Togwotee area has very poor structure with well developed facets. However, less snow and therefore less slab development has resulted in a less widespread problem until additional loading occurs.
