Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The General Avalanche Hazard is MODERATE. Two avalanches concerns continue: Surface slabs one to three feet in depth, which rest on suncrusts and buried surface hoar. These slides may be initiated by the second or later person or multiple people on a slope at the same time. The second concern is deep, hard slab avalanches due to increasing weak, faceting at the foundation of the snowpack. This situation exits in areas that have shallow snow depths where a supportable layer of surface snow can give a false sense of security as the number of prior tracks on a slope may not indicate stability. Each new track may be weakening the slope increasing the chance of triggering a slide. Last weekend two snowmobilers started and were partially buried by this type of slide on an easterly aspect at 8,500 feet in the Snake River Range. Other similar events have occurred over the past week. Current dry weather and very cold conditions will increase the Avalanche Danger over time. The consequences of being caught in one of these slides are severe.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. ) Daytime will be clear Wednesday with temperatures rising into the upper teens then clouds will increase in the evening as a cold front moves across the region bringing a chance of an inch or two of light snow. Winds will be westerly at 10 to 15 miles per hour. The General Avalanche Hazard will be MODERATE. Two avalanche concerns continue: Surface slabs one to two feet in depth, which rest on suncrusts and buried surface hoar remain susceptible to human triggers on many aspects. The second avalanche possibility is deep, hard slabs. Normal signs of stability such as previous tracks may only be the beginning of the weakening of the stronger surface snows. Under the current weather conditions the snowpack will become weaker and weaker and the chances of triggering a dangerous hard slab avalanche will increase. This condition has existed in the Greys River area to the South and Togwotee Pass region to the East. Ascend and descend slopes in tree covered areas and avoid open slopes to reduce your chances of releasing slides during this unpredictable period.