Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The General Avalanche Hazard is MODERATE. At the highest elevations, pockets of slab up to 18 inches deep lie upon weak, faceted snow. These slabs will increase in depth and become more susceptible to failure as new snow accumulates throughout the day. Backcountry travelers could trigger these slabs in steep, wind-loaded avalanche starting zones. On Sunday a snowmobiler was buried in the Cliff Creek area near Bondurant. His well prepared companions dug him out uninjured. Similar events may be possible with larger triggers (there were two machines on the slope at the same time)pulling out older snow resting on weak layers at higher elevations on northerly aspects.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Areas of light snow will increase over the mountains becoming widespread by Wednesday evening. Daytime highs will be in the mid twenties and ridgetop winds will be westerly at 25 to 30 miles per hour.The General Avalanche Hazard is expected to be CONSIDERABLE above 9000 feet Wednesday. Slabs eighteen inches to four feet in depth may be triggered on lee slopes primarily on Northerly to Easterly aspects. As temperatures cool larger triggers like the second or third skier or more than one skier or snowmobiler on a slope may start slides. The Togwotee Pass and Greys River areas will be MODERATE. Danger lurks in Northerly aspects at upper elevations where the snow rests on weak faceted snow and slides to two feet in depth could be triggered.