Tetons

At the mid and upper elevations unstable slabs up to three feet in depth lie upon weak layers of buried surface hoar, depth hoar and slick crusts. Yesterday a skier in the Upper Rock Springs drainage triggered one of these slabs on approach. Two days ago three slabs were triggered by skiers and a snow boarder in the backcountry near Grand Targhee Resort. One skier was completely buried and rescued by companions. Similar events are likely to be triggered today by people who venture into steep wind loaded terrain. This snowpack presents a dangerous scenario with the potential for fatalities. At the lower elevations avalanches are unlikely except in isolated pockets.