Boletín de aludes

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Sat
Alta montaña
3 · Notable
Límite del bosque
3 · Notable
Bajo el límite
2 · Moderado
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 3 years ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

Triggering a deep, wide avalanche on very steep slopes facing west, north, and east above 7500’ remains likely. These very steep slopes are dangerous and require careful snowpack assessment of buried weak layers. Stay conservative as the consequences of triggering an avalanche remain high. 

Problemas de aludes

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Likely
    Tamaño
    2–3

    Weak layers formed in December buried 2-4 feet deep consisting of hard slabs are capable of producing large and wide human triggered avalanches. Two avalanches resulting in full burials have occurred in the last 6 days (Willow Creek, Palmer Creek). Both avalanches occurred in the middle elevations on N and E aspects where the slab is thin, easy to trigger, and preserved weak snow is most reactive. This layer is slowly trending less reactive but we are not out of the woods yet. Triggering an avalanche on steeper slopes above 35° will still be likely today in the middle and upper elevations across all aspects. Upper elevations where the weak layer is buried 2.5-3 feet deep will be less reactive such as the Salt and Snake River Ranges.

     

     

    (1/22/2024)

    Recent avalanche incident in the Salt River Range that depicts the current danger on steep slopes. 

    Photo: Braden Dickey

Avalanche Discussion

Not Your Typical Winter

Over the last week I’ve spoken with local, longtime residents in each of the forecast zones about how they’ve seen avalanches this January break on slopes that typically did not in years past. The good news is that the chances of triggering one of these avalanches becomes less each day. The bad news is this process of the snowpack stabilizing takes time while the consequences of triggering remains the same. I’ve been digging in snow pits all week and that layer of weak snow is thick and well preserved with facets and surface hoar on the north half of the compass. We're going to see a trend where avalanches are less likely but still possible for quite some time. As discussed above, those middle elevations are still alarming as well as upper elevations where a thinner snowpack exists, such as the Wyoming Range.  Avalanches occurring in atypical terrain such as treed slopes or remotely are becoming less likely, but still possible. Keep your eyes on those large, steeper slopes where avalanches could break wide and terrain traps such as large creeks and gullies.

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