Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The general avalanche hazard is MODERATE. Dense surface slabs two to four feet in depth lie upon lighter density snow and buried crusts. These slabs could be triggered by the weight of a single person but may require larger triggers such as high-marking or more than one person on a slope. Sunday two snowmachiners were just missed by an avalanche near Togwotee Pass. When a machine is stuck on a slope always let the rider dig out alone.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A weak Pacific trough will bring light snow overnight into Tuesday with three to five inches of accumulation by Tuesday night. Mountain temperatures will start in the mid teens Tuesday morning then warm into the mid 20s. Winds will be northwesterly at 15 miles per hour. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate. The snowpack has settled and is adjusting to last week's heavy accumulations. At upper elevations backcountry travelers could trigger slabs to two feet in depth on steep slopes, particularly those that steepen above or below cliff bands or under cornice lines with good wind deposits. Deeper slabs, to six feet in depth, could be triggered in isolated, very steep areas with deep drifting. Sunday two snowmobilers just missed being caught in a slide in the Kettle Creek drainage southwest of Togwotee Pass. The people were working to free a stuck machine on a very steep, wind loaded, south facing slope when it broke above them about three feet deep. The debris passed just to the side of them into an area where they had just been spending time. Similar events should be expected with large triggers throughout the region.