Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Today, it is possible to trigger a slab avalanche in very steep terrain. Avalanches could break 2–5 feet deep and be big enough to bury or injure a rider. Very steep slopes facing west through north through east above 8,000 feet are most suspect. The best way to deal with these avalanches is to avoid them. Remember, when riding on or around avalanche terrain, to carry avalanche rescue equipment on your person, practice with it, and only expose one person at a time to avalanche terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Weak snow that was formed in November is buried 2-5 feet deep. While the chance of triggering a slide on this snow has been on the decline, the possibility still exists. Avalanches failing on this layer are dangerous, big enough to bury or injure a rider. It is unlikely that signs of a slope being unstable will be present, so terrain identification is key. Slopes that are steep, convex, have thin spots (trigger points such as rocks or small trees), and have been previously wind affected are most suspect. Carefully evaluate steep terrain before engaging.

    A rider had a very close call December 31, 2025. This avalanche illustrates the difficulty in pinpointing where you can trigger deeper weak layers. Note that this seems to be a shallow area, making it easier to trigger a weak layer.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Winds have remained tame in the majority of the range, but there is a possibility of triggering a wind slab in very steep leeward terrain at upper elevations. Look for drifts of snow around ridgelines and crossroads gullies, they may be hard and feel hollow or drum-like. Cracking in the snow is a major red flag and a good sign to retreat from a slope if it's steep.

    As temperatures warm throughout the day, wet snow avalanches on steep, sun exposed slopes will become more likely. While these avalanches will generally be small, they could stack up in gullies and other similar terrain features. Roller balls are a sign that slopes are heating up.

    (1/10/2026)

    Example of how to identify wind loaded terrain. 

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

As time goes on, persistent weak layers buried in the snowpack will eventually heal, but they aren’t there yet. Unlike new snow instabilities like wind slabs and storm slabs, persistent weak layers linger. They overstay their welcome, and we just wish they would say goodbye until next year. But like a good host, we must entertain them until the end.

The best way to deal with this avalanche problem is to properly identify terrain, assess if it has a persistent weak layer, and determine whether it is steep enough to slide.

Here are some tools to help identify terrain:

  • Avoid terrain traps. Gullies, trees, rocks, and quick transitions in terrain can worsen the consequences of an avalanche. Don’t plan on getting caught in a slide, but if you do, stack the odds of a favorable outcome by avoiding these terrain features.
  • If a slope is shaded during the day, it likely faces west, north, or east. These are aspects that are more likely to harbor weak snow.
  • Measure if a slope is avalanche terrain or not. Slopes over 30° are avalanche terrain, and for the problems we are dealing with now, we are most concerned with slopes over 35°. You can use a variety of apps, but using the Measure app or a bubble level app can help with this. Here is a video that demonstrates how to measure slope angle.
  • Use digital mapping to identify aspect, elevation, and slope angle. Most modern mapping apps have a slope-angle shading layer. This can help you get a general idea of where avalanche terrain exists. Remember that this tool has resolution limitations and shouldn’t be used for actual route finding.
  • Carry avalanche rescue equipment on your person (avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe) and practice with it. There is no substitute for regular hands-on practice. Consider taking an avalanche course. These videos can be helpful, but are not a substitute for real, hands-on education.

Here is a preliminary look at the accident site and the snowpack in LaBarge Creek made yesterday. 

Regions covered