Togwotee Pass

The General Avalanche Hazard is MODERATE. Backcounry travellers could trigger surface slabs to a foot in depth in steep wind loaded terrain today. The potential also continues to trigger deeper hard slabs in steep terrain that are underlain by a weak layer of faceted snow near the base of the snow pack. A skier unintentionally triggered such a slide yesterday on a Southwest facing slope.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )After inversion conditions hold through the night, clouds are expected to increase during the afternoon in front of a weak low pressure system. Mountain temperatures are to rise from the single digits to the mid teens. Light Southerly winds are expected.The General Avalanche Hazard in the Tetons is expected to be Moderate at the high elevations and Low at the mid and low elevations. Wind formed surface slabs could be human triggered at the high elevations in very steep wind loaded terrain. A remote possibility also exists to trigger deeper hard slabs at the mid and high elevations in steep terrain in and above cliff areas. At low elevations isolated pockets of slab exist in steep avalanche paths prone to wind loading.In the Togwotee Pass area the hazard is expected to be Moderate where a chance exists to trigger pockets of shallow wind loaded surface slabs as well deeper hard slabs that lie on weak snow in steep terrain.In the Southwest trails area a weaker snow pack underlies surface slabs in avalanche terrain and the hazard is expected to remain Considerable. Human triggered, large, destructive avalanches remain possible in steep terrain.