A Special Avalanche Bulletin has been issued by the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center at 8:45 AM. The content of this bulletin can be viewed at <a href="nws_warnings.php"> http://www.jhavalanche.org/nws_warnings.php</a>. Significant snowfall particularly on the west slopes of the Tetons combined with moderate westerly winds have created easily triggered soft slabs to two feet in depth on avalanche prone slopes at mid and upper elevations. At low elevations the snowpack is mostly stable.The center has received preliminary and unverified information regarding an avalanche fatality that occurred yesterday afternoon. A backcountry skier who accessed the Clause Creek area by skis and snowmobile from the Cliff Creek Trailhead in Hoback Canyon is believed to have triggered an eight inch deep soft slab on a steep slope at an elevation of about 9,200 feet and was carried into a tree and did not survive. Rescue personnel hope to gain access to this area today. Our sincere condolences go out to those involved and their friends and families.
At mid and upper elevations new soft wind slabs or sloughs to two feet in depth will be easily triggered on a variety of aspects as the new snow rests on weak and/or slick surfaces of wind pack, sun crusts or faceted snow.
Snowfall rates will increase in intensity as clouds lower Monday evening. Through noon Tuesday six to 12 inches of accumulation are expected with three to six inches in the valleys. Temperatures will be in the single digits Tuesday morning then rise to the low teens. Snowfall is forecasted to continue into Tuesday evening. Ridge top winds will be westerly at 25 miles per hour through the period with stronger gusts. The new snowfall will continue to load weak sliding surfaces from the extended dry, cold period. The first snowfall cycles on such surfaces usually result in poorly bonded, easily moved slabs and sloughs that often surprise backcountry travelers that are not wary of the predictable instabilities. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate in the Southwest Trails/Greys River area and the Continental Divide/Togwotee Pass area. In the Tetons, the hazard is expected to be Considerable. The west side of the range has not seen a break in snowfall with over 20 inches of accumulation and the east side has over 12 inches with several more inches expected. Significantly the winds will increase and build the easily drifted, light snow into dangerous, very sensitive soft slabs to three feet in depth.
