Lawinenlagebericht

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Tue
Hochgebirge
3 · Erheblich
Waldgrenze
3 · Erheblich
Unterhalb
Keine Stufe
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Kernpunkte

New and wind-drifted snow are creating touchy wind slabs and adding weight to buried weak layers. Avalanche conditions will be most dangerous on slopes with windblown snow, but it's also possible to trigger a slide breaking 2+ feet deep on steep, sheltered slopes.  It will be a good day to stick to lower slope angles (<30°) and avoid wind-loaded terrain.

 

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Likely
    Größe
    1–2

    Over a foot of new snow has fallen in this zone over the past 48 hours. Some of this snow was transported into slabs yesterday as wind speeds increased. Another round of snowfall overnight and today will make for additional ammunition for the winds. As you gain elevation, you will be more and more likely to find these slabs, and they will grow in thickness and distribution. They will be the largest and most sensitive in upper elevation terrain where winds are strongest and are transporting the most snow.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Weak snow that formed during a dry period in the second half of January has been buried 2-4 feet deep by snowfall from the early February storms. These slabs sit on a variety of interfaces, including crusts on solar aspects and facets on shaded aspects. The likelihood of triggering slabs at this interface has decreased over time. However, activating this layer may still be possible in very steep, rocky, and wind affected terrain. Large triggers such as a surface avalanche, cornice fall, or multiple riders on a slope will increase the odds of impacting these weak layers in the middle of the snowpack. While the chances of triggering are low, it remains important to stack the odds in your favor by following safe travel protocol. Travel one at a time across steep terrain, use islands of safety, and communicate with your partners.

    (2/11/2025)

    An avalanche failing on weak snow formed during the dry period at the end of January.

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Unlikely
    Größe
    2–3

    Weak snow exists near the ground above 9,000’. This snow is buried 5 feet deep on average. Although triggering an avalanche at this depth is very unlikely, it's not impossible. On February 10th, a rider stepped off their sled and triggered a very large avalanche that failed near the ground on Lava Mountain. This avalanche was triggered where the overlying slab was thin making it possible for the rider to impact the underlying weak layer. Thin spots exist in rocky and wind affected terrain. Since deep slabs are extremely difficult to predict and carry high consequences, terrain choice remains the best way to avoid this problem. Manage this problem the same way you would manage weak layers in the middle of the snowpack (problem #2) by avoiding very steep, rocky, and heavily wind affected terrain.

    (2/11/2025)

    The crown of the recent unintentionally-triggered avalanche on the E face of Lava ~10,400'.

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

  1. We'll likely see some mid-storm instabilities or slides breaking on the new/old snow interface. These slides will be on the smaller side (especially where less snow has fallen), and these issues will be short-lived.
  2. Triggering a larger avalanche will be possible on weak layers in the top portion of the snowpack that formed in January. These layers will trend more stubborn as they get buried deeper. While there has been little activity reported on these layers in this zone, it is worth noting that avalanches involving these interfaces have been triggered by people every day since they were buried in neighboring zones. The snowpack at Togwotee harbors weak snow broadly and should be considered guilty until proven innocent with each change in weather. Keep the potential for deeper avalanches on your radar today, as there will be little warning before triggering a deeper slide. 

 Please consider submitting an observation HERE. Observations allow everyone to gain a better and more complete understanding of conditions. Thanks!

 

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