Backcountry skiers, riders, and hikers have the potential to trigger slab avalanches in steep wind loaded areas at the upper elevations of the Tetons. Avalanches between 7500 feet and 9000 are unlikely except for isolated terrain features. Below 7500 feet, the snowpack remains too shallow for avalanche concerns. Recreationalists are encouraged to use caution in the mountains as even small avalanches can knock someone into rocks and trees.
Wind slabs involving new and recent snow have the potential to fail with depths up to 18 inches. These slabs can be soft or hard and could release with the weight of a single person in very steep terrain. These slabs will increase in size and sensitivity as they are further loaded today.
Snow amounts varied over the last 24 hours with Grand Targhee receiving the highest snowfall. At that location, another 8 inches of snow containing nearly an inch of moisture was received. This snow added load to a snowpack that has weak layers that were buried at the beginning of this moist period starting on November 2. Slab avalanches involving that interface or density changes within the storm have become less sensitive to triggering as the early season snowpack has been adjusting to this new load. As it has become harder to initiate an avalanche, it has also become harder to predict which wind loaded starting zones could fail due to the weight of a single person. The snowpack is shallow and it is recommended to take a look at the snow layering before venturing into avalanche terrain.
