Tetons

At Upper and Mid elevations strong winds Monday night created stiff, deep drifts in lee areas. The wind packed snow after Monday's warm and now cool temperatures will make it more difficult to trigger slides but any avalanches are likely to be large and dangerous involving the new and old snow. Widespread natural activity two or more days old indicate deeper instabilities continue on steep slopes that have not yet slid. Conservative decisions and good terrain evaluation and route finding skills are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain. At low elevations strong winds also created some areas of wind slab to eighteen inches in depth on lee and cross-loaded areas that could be human triggered. Bridger-Teton National Forest officials have closed touring gates from the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.