Boletín de aludes

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Thu
Alta montaña
3 · Notable
Límite del bosque
2 · Moderado
Bajo el límite
Sin grado
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 4 years ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

Conditions remain dangerous. Triggering a large avalanche is likely on steep slopes in the upper elevations. Skiers and riders should choose low-angle terrain that isn't threatened by steeper slopes above, and avoid areas where the wind has stiffened the snow surface. Numerous large avalanches have occurred in this zone over the past storm cycle. 

A large avalanche triggered by several parties on Mt. Taylor two days ago illustrates this hazard. Skier-triggered avalanche on Mt. Taylor

Problemas de aludes

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Likely
    Tamaño
    1–2

    A spell of moderate to strong winds over the past two days has created wind slabs on some exposed slopes. These new drifts are adding more weight to the persistent weak layer, and triggering one could step down deeper to become a much bigger avalanche. I found dense drifts in the upper elevations of West Angle two days ago. Though I expect the sensitivity of these to decrease, triggering one remains likely in the upper elevations. Continue to watch for and avoid wind-drifted slopes, even in smaller terrain here (steep sides of drainages and creeks). It also pays to recognize that the wind slab problem is intertwined with the persistent slab problem. 

    Wind-loaded slopes will have even more weight on weaker layers, and wind-affected areas are likely to have variable snow depths and spots where you can more easily impact these layers. The best—and really only—way to manage this problem is by choosing lower-angled slopes. 

    (1/31/2023)

    Exposed rollovers, conve

    Photo: Dawson Hatch

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Weak snow exists throughout the base of the snowpack here. The recent and rapid loading of 1.35 inches of snow water equivalent has added a hefty slab into the equation at Togwotee. Additionally, weak layers may be more easily impacted by your weight at mid-elevations where the slab is thinner, or in rocky and/or wind-affected areas where there are shallower areas. Observations, since the storm ended, are still fairly limited, and there's a high level of uncertainty with the state of the snowpack in this zone. But one thing is for sure—you don't want to tangle with one of these avalanches. To reduce your risk, stick to lower slope angles and low-consequence terrain.

    (1/30/2023)

    Natural avalanche on a E aspect around 10,000 feet at Togwotee Pass. 

    Photo: Antonioli

Avalanche Discussion

At the risk of undermining any notion of expertise you may think I possess, I've made plenty of bad decisions in avalanche terrain. I'm eternally skeptical of myself. Not to a point that is paralyzing, but I think about how I think about everything- a lot. We are all fallible, and I find it best for my practice to own that and talk about it openly. How else does one receive feedback when the environment won't provide it? I usually seek it from friends, mentors, or any objective third party. I encourage you to do the same if you don't already. Triggering an avalanche is not great because it may injure or kill us, or others. But is also nothing to be ashamed of, particularly if we were striving to make the best decisions. It is an inherent part of playing the backcountry game, where feedback is so poor that plenty of bad decisions end in nothing happening, or sometimes even, great skiing. 

There hasn't been significant loading for several days, so are avalanche conditions becoming safer? The answer is an emphatic "No". There are two important points to consider:

1) The buried weak layer is especially bad due to a well-developed and widespread nature

2) This weak layer has received a rapid and large snowfall with increasing winds.

These factors, especially in combination, have produced an instability that could be long-lasting and unpredictable. Even as we head into a period of more stable weather, I wouldn't be surprised if people are triggering avalanches a week from today. Throw human behavior into the mix, and one could argue that conditions are becoming more dangerous. As time goes by and the obvious signs of instability diminish, it requires more and more discipline to choose the appropriate terrain.

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