Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Increasing wind and continued snowfall will create dangerous avalanche conditions. You are likely to trigger a slab 2-3 feet thick in steep terrain, particularly in areas affected by wind or wet snow and rain. Shooting cracks and pinwheels of wet snow are red flags indicating unstable snow.  Use a conservative mindset to limit your exposure to a complex set of avalanche problems. 

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Avalanche danger is highest the farther north you travel in this forecast zone. You'll find the greatest snowfall totals from the past two days in the Snake River and Gros Ventre ranges where another foot of snow is likely to fall today. The new snow is falling on  "upside down" snow that sits on a crust.  These crusts also have some facets around them, forming an ideal point of failure and sliding surface for avalanches. These crusts exist on all aspects up to 9,000'.  

    (2/4/2024)

    Small pockets of new snow could be cut and avalanched easily on the old snow/new snow interface around 8-12 inches deep. 

  • Wind Slabs

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

    You're likely to find wind slabs in all areas of this forecast zone today. Wind is on the increase and will drift snow at ridgetops especially and may cross load slopes in the mid-elevations. Wind slabs were sensitive yesterday though limited to ridgetops at upper elevations. Today, you'll find the same issue but lower in elevation.  Look for cross-loading where wind funnels through passes and across gullies and couloirs.

    (2/6/2024)

    Wind drifted snow where you can find reactive wind slabs on northerly aspects (leeward) off ridgelines.Wind increases today and you're likely to find pillows across more terrain.

    Photo: Alex Drinkard

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    This problem exists in the northern part of this forecast zone where new snow continues to load a shallow snowpack.  It will be possible to trigger a thicker avalanche where the new snow is forming a dense slab. Yesterday, snow in the Snake River Range and Gros Ventre had not yet formed the thick slab needed to overload the December drought layer. New snow and settlement today could form the slab required to trigger that deeper weakness. You'll find this weak layer 2-4 feet below the surface above 7,000'. Above 9,000', this layer is deeper and harder to trigger except in thin spots in the snowpack due to wind affect or over rocks. Recent snow that falls on the many slide paths that avalanched on the December drought layer are reloading and could slide again. These areas may be hard to see due to accumulated snow since the active avalanche cycles of early and mid-January. 

     

     

     

Avalanche Discussion

You'll want to bring your A game today if you travel anywhere near avalanche paths. The snowpack is highly variable across elevations as well as south to north. The southern part of this zone has received less new snow over the past few days so you're likely to be dealing primarily with wind slabs and the persistent weak layers 2-4' down depending on your elevation. 

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