Lawinenlagebericht

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Fri
Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
Keine Stufe
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 3 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Large avalanches are unlikely. The highest chance of triggering large slides is on shady or wind-affected slopes, where weak snow exists near the base of the snowpack. Watch for recently-formed wind drifts, and due to warm temperatures, be on the lookout for loose snow avalanches on sunny slopes in steep terrain at all elevations where snow exists.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Triggering a persistent slab avalanche is unlikely but not impossible. Weak snow exists in the bottom and middle of the snowpack (~1-3 feet deep) on most shady slopes. Know that they are likely to be under your feet or sled. Warm and dry conditions last week gave these weak layers time to rest, but they did not magically disappear.

    You are most likely to find trouble on steep, rocky, and wind-affected features.  Because these weak layers range in depth with how deeply they're buried on many slopes, slides failing on them could be large and destructive. Also, remember that tracks on a slope do not equal stability, and you may find a weak spot even after multiple people have ridden the same slope. Size up the slope before you ride it, and consider what would happen if you triggered a small slab. Would it drag you through shallow rocks or into a terrain trap?  Continue to trench your sled track or dig into the snow to see if the weak structure exists where you are riding. 

     

    ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION:Frank and Fitz found a recent sizable avalanche of winded snow while riding near Sheep Pass in the Greys River (see photos attached). Though isolated, these slabs could still be sensitive to your weight. Yesterday, I noted a handful of small, natural loose wet snow avalanches on SE-S aspects. Today's continued calm and inverted weather could produce another round of similar activity on rocky, E-S-W facing slopes. Consider the consequences of being caught in a small slide before committing to serious terrain. 

     

    This wind slab failed on a melt-freeze crust on an east aspect. It seems likely that it was triggered by snowmobiles given the age of the tracks and debris combined with the refilled snow.

    Photo: Frank Carus

Avalanche Discussion

No avalanche activity has been noted at Togwotee Pass for the past two weeks. The green LOW rating does not automatically mean "send it and don't worry about avalanches." Remember: the danger rating and avalanche forecast are meant to give you baseline travel information. However, you get to decide whether riding the terrain is a good idea.  Some things to continue to bear in mind over the next few days on continued sunny skies and LOW hazard:

  • Read the forecast to understand where there are still avalanche concerns. LOW danger is "Watching for unstable snow on isolated terrain features." So continue to do just that! 
  • Make plans that clearly define terrain that is "off-limits." Stick to your plan, and have an alternate if conditions are different than you expect.
  • Evaluate terrain carefully, and never stop paying attention to consequences. If you're considering riding a slope where triggering a slide would likely be fatal and push you into the numerous exposed hazards currently (rocks, stumps) OR small terrain features terminating in a creek or flat terrain that could result in a deep burial, you need to be very, very confident in the snowpack stability. 
  • Continue to use safe travel practices. If there's any question, choose lower consequence terrain. And remember, other people are hazards, too. LOW danger usually equals MORE people in avalanche terrain, generally using less caution. 

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