Lawinenlagebericht

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
Keine Stufe
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 4 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

The combination of recent snow, wind, and buried weak layers make human triggered avalanches possible today. Steep and rocky areas that have been wind affected on north through east through south aspects are the most likely areas to trigger a slab.  Monitor the wind direction as well as the temperatures today and pay attention to signs of instability such as cracking within drifted snow or audible collapsing of the snowpack. 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–1.5

    Wind slabs (both soft and hard) are possible at the upper elevations today, with depths around 12 inches. 

    Up to 8 inches of snow has fallen at the upper elevations in the Togwotee zone over the last 4 days. This snow has largely been medium density and is readily available for transport. Monitor the wind direction and look for blowing and drifting snow. Pay attention to the warming temperatures today especially if the weather forecast does not validate and the sun actually pokes out. 

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2.5

    Weak, sugary snow is buried 1-3 feet deep below the surface of the snow. These layers formed from cold, dry periods that occured in November and early December and are widespread. Avoid steep and rocky areas that are wind effected where triggering a slab is more likely. 

    (1/1/2023) R3D2 on Angle mtn. Photo: Andrew Newman

Avalanche Discussion

Weather Synopsis

Currently western Wyoming is sitting under a ridge of high pressure with some moisture aloft. This will bring warm temperatures with high clouds, causing a greenhouse effect. 

A deep trough that eventually closed off north of the Texas Panhandle dropped 12-15 inches of snow with over an inch of SWE in the Tetons and the Greys zones on January 11/12. Togwotee received closer to 6-8 inches of snow with this system. 

Prior to that WSW flow with imbedded Pacific moisture impacted the forecast area with 3-7 inches of snow and breezy conditions on January 9/10.

Recent Avalanches

An avalanche was observed in Split Rock Creek on January 7th. 

  • Split rock creek- 20230107, SS-AMr-D2-I, NE aspect @ 9000'

The most recent natural avalanche cycle followed on the heels of tropical moisture in a SW-W flow that hit Togwotee from December 27- January 1. No human triggered avalanches have been reported recently.

  • Angle- 20230101, HS-N-R3-D2-O, SE aspect @ 10,500'
  • Breccia- 20230101, HS-N-R2-D2-O, ESE aspect @ 10,500'

Snowpack Summary

Current snow surfaces are composed of medium to high density snow that has settled from the January 10/11 storm. In wind affected areas the surface of the snow has turned into upside down wind slabs. 

Snow depths are approaching 1-1.5 meters at upper elevations in the Togwotee area. The top half of the snow pack is composed of new, decomposing, and wind packed snow. The bottom half of the snowpack is composed of crusts and advanced facets that are in excess of 2mm in some locations. All of the snow from November and October has faceted, with the October snow taking on the form of depth hoar. 

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