Togwotee Pass

Deeply buried weak snow remains a concern, despite the many tracks in this forecast zone. The best way to avoid triggering this type of avalanche is to avoid riding on very steep slopes, especially slopes that end in a gully or other terrain trap. Remember to travel one at a time and keep eyes on your party when riding on or near any suspect slope.

High pressure and no snow for ten days have left any possible fresh snow covered in tracks. The lack of new snow does not mean that the snowpack is stable. The deep weak layers that frequently plague the high, thin and cold snowpack in Togwotee are still there. And while we haven’t had any avalanches in a while, those weak layers are still lurking. Think twice before riding on slopes over 35 degrees on shady, mostly northerly-facing slopes. 

Remember the consequences of small avalanches triggered over terrain traps. The tragic accident that occurred in La Barge Creek is a reminder to remain vigilant in avalanche terrain at all times. Here is a link to thepreliminary report.