Lawinenlagebericht

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sun
Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
Keine Stufe
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Kernpunkte

Avalanches are not expected today. Direct sun may cause small wet loose slides or cornice falls this afternoon if snow surfaces experience enough warming. While unlikely, weak snow lingers at the base of the snowpack and avalanches on this layer remain on the list of potential hazards. This is the last daily forecast of the season, general bulletins will be issued twice a week into May.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    1.5–2.5

    Triggering a persistent slab avalanche on weak snow buried 2-4 feet deep is very unlikely but not impossible. Suspect terrain includessteep, rocky, and wind-affected slopes on the north half of the compass. These areas contain thin, shallow spots where riders can impact weak layers. Use caution in steep terrain and give yourself a wide margin of error on slopes with high consequences or near terrain traps. The last known persistent slab avalanche occurred on 3/16 in Upper Deception Creek. On 3/19, a wet slab avalanche failing on these persistent weak layers occurred on Breccia.Similar wet slabs involving weak snow near the base of the snowpack will become possible again if the snowpack does not freeze for multiple days in a row.

    Cornices have grown large over the season. An observation from Brooks is a good example of this. Minimize the amount of time spent under slopes with looming cornices. Large falling chunks of cornice can act as very large triggers impacting deep weak layers. If you are on a ridge, remember that cornices break much further back than you might think.

    Weak snow at the base of the Togwotee snowpack continues to persist. Failure on basal facets was observed yesterday on West Angle.

Avalanche Discussion

As we have returned to warm, sunny weather wet avalanches will likely become a concern again soon. Snow surfaces are expected to remain cool today and wet loose slides could be possible later today if there is enough warming. The Togwotee snowpack continues to be the most structurally poor of our forecasting areas. Weak, faceted snow lives on at the base and possesses all the characteristics necessary to produce an avalanche. While unlikely, these slides would involve hard, destructive slabs. An extended column test performed yesterday on West Angle produced a propagating failure at the bottom of the snowpack. This test was done in a spot where the snowpack is thinner, just over 3 feet, demonstrating that shallow spots still hold the potential for triggering slides. Several hard crusts have formed in the snowpack including an ice layer in the top foot that was likely formed by pooling water during a recent thaw.

Remember that low danger does not mean no danger. Even a small avalanche can have large consequences especially where terrain traps exist. Pay attention to steep trees, cliff bands, open creek holes, exposed rocks, and gullies. These are all-terrain features where small avalanches have impactful consequences. As we come to the end of the season, continue your safe riding practices so as not to get caught off guard. 

Today will be the final daily avalanche forecast from the Bridger Teton Avalanche Center. General Snow and Avalanche Information Bulletins will begin tomorrow and continue two times per week until May. We will update the Big Sheet daily until June 1st. Thank you for reading this season!

 

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