Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Human-triggered avalanches are likely at middle and upper elevations where new snow and wind have formed fresh slabs 1 - 2 feet thick. Avalanches can step down to weak layers buried 3 feet deep creating larger slides. At lower elevations, sensitive storm slabs up to 1 foot thick will be found on steep slopes. Use conservative terrain choices and stick to terrain <30º to decrease your risk. 

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 11:00 AM Saturday. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Over the past 48 hours, up to 16 inches of new snow has fallen in the Salt and Wyoming Ranges. As the new snow settles, it's creating sensitive slabs 1 foot thick on all elevations and aspects. Human-triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches will be possible in steep terrain. The new snow has fallen "upside down" meaning heavier snow sits on top of lighter snow - making it easy for new snow to avalanche. Observations from the neighboring Teton zone pointed to easily triggered slabs in steep terrain. Pay attention to signs of instability such as shooting cracks, collapsing, and recent avalanches. Triggering a slab in the new snow can step down into older snow creating larger than expected avalanches. Using conservative terrain choices and sticking to slopes <30º will decrease your risk. 

    Additional Discussion: Fresh wind slabs up to 2 feet thick have formed at upper elevations where south and west winds have transported new snow. Carefully evaluate terrain where wind slabs typically form, such as ridgelines, cross-loaded gullies, and leeward slopes. 

    (2/3/2025)

    A large storm slab from a previous storm in the Salt and Wyoming Range. 

    Photo: Ray Landry

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Triggering a large avalanche up to 3 feet thick on buried weak layers is likely at middle and upper elevations. These layers - formed on 2/6- have been recently active in the neighboring Teton zone and will remain sensitive under the new snow. The current slab sits on a variety of weak surfaces, including crusts/facets on solar aspects and facets on northerly aspects. The terrain where these weak layers are most reactive was loaded by west/southwest wind yesterday. Triggering a fresh wind or storm slab can step down to buried weak layers producing large avalanches. Wind-loaded terrain will be the most dangerous today. Use careful route-finding to steer clear of wind-loaded slopes. Keep in mind that steep, sheltered terrain also has the capability of producing larger avalanches. Stay away from slopes where you see signs of instability in the new snow such as cracking, collapsing, and recent avalanches. Using conservative terrain choices and sticking to slopes <30º will decrease your risk. 

    (2/11/2025)

    This older large avalanche occurred on weaker snow deeper in the snowpack at upper elevations near Gunsight Pass. 

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Snow from the past 48 hours has come in with fluctuations in temperature. As the temperature changes, the density of the snow falling also changes. When we reference an 'upside down' snowpack, that means lower density fell before higher density snow. This setup creates ideal conditions for avalanching. This problem tends to be short-lived as the new snow will pack down rapidly. New snow depth varies significantly through this forecast zone so pay attention to depth as you travel. It's safe to assume a storm slab will be similar in depth to the new snow. The easiest way to manage this problem is simple - stay away from steeper slopes that can avalanche. 

The harder problem to manage will be the persistent weak layer buried on 2/6. While we haven't seen much activity on this layer, we know it's out there and is a longer-lasting problem. It's hard to know what it will take to trigger it. Until we get more information, we can follow the same protocol that we use for storm slabs - sticking to lower-angle terrain. 

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