Boletín de aludes

Tetons

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

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

Lo esencial

Very dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Continued snowfall and wind are stressing a reactive snowpack. You are likely to trigger an avalanche today on most steep slopes, both in areas where the wind has built drifts and in areas sheltered from the wind. Avalanches can be triggered remotely—from below, above, and to the sides of steeper terrain.

We are sorry to report that a fatal avalanche occurred yesterday in the Salt River Range. The preliminary report can be found here. Our condolences go out to those involved.

Problemas de aludes

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Likely
    Tamaño
    1–3

    An avalanche you trigger today will likely be deadly. Avalanches are failing on very weak snow formed in December and are breaking 3 to 5 feet deep in the middle and upper elevations. Below 7,500’, slab depths are in the 1 to 3-foot range. At upper elevations, these avalanches may break wider than you expect or connect two pieces of steeper terrain with lower-angled features that may appear friendlier but, in fact, are not. Avoid avalanche terrain on upper-elevation slopes. Extremely careful route-finding is necessary today and in the coming days.

    All aspects (shaded and sunny) at all elevations are suspect, and only the lowest elevation slopes that were bare ground before January 4th have escaped this problem. Slabs could be triggered from a distance or wait until you have committed to the slope to release. Additionally, expect to find touchy wind slabs in upper-elevation terrain and possibly on exposed mid-elevation slopes.  These wind slabs are adding more weight to the weak snow described above. Avoid any slope where you find evidence of fresh wind drifting. 

    We have received many avalanche observations over the past few days. Your community appreciates it, as do we. Please take a moment to look at the recent events here.

    (1/14/2024) This avalanche was remotely triggered yesterday in the Phillip's Pass area at middle elevations on NE-facing terrain.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    Weak snow formed during a dry period in November persists at the base of the snowpack. This layer is now buried about 5 to 6 feet deep in the Tetons and is weakest on the north half of the compass. The recent loading event has pushed this weak layer to its breaking point in some locations. Deep slab events have been reported at Grand Targhee and in Grand Teton National Park over the past few days. These very large avalanches are most likely to occur when an avalanche triggered in the most recent snow steps down to weak November snow. Any avalanche involving the entire snowpack will be destructive and likely unsurvivable.

    (1/13/2024)

    A very large (D3) avalanche in the Static/Albright cirque. Note the areas in the apron that stepped down to older snow.

Avalanche Discussion

In a small town, avalanche deaths impact us all—nearly everyone is only a few degrees of separation from being an acquaintance. Accidents provide us an opportunity to reflect on our own choices and exercise compassion for ourselves and others. The current snowpack setup has an unprecedented and widespread amount of weak snow that is particularly wicked. The character of this weak snow is unlike what many folks have ever experienced. It's a rare season, even in a lifetime in the mountains, to glass just a small portion of one side of a mountain range and have a hard time not seeing a wide, destructive avalanche. This season is already going down in history as unprecedented for a variety of reasons, and our typical use patterns in the backcountry need to adapt to this. Any and all terrain needs to be looked at with a fresh lens today and moving forward. This means dialing back slope angles, even in terrain that feels more familiar, & recognizing the consequences of even a small avalanche in that terrain. 

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