Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
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Highlights

Continued warm temperatures will make human-triggered wet avalanches possible today. Watch out for steep, sunny, rocky terrain that is sheltered from the wind. In addition, triggering a large destructive avalanche on buried persistent weak layers remains possible, especially where the snowpack is thin. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wet Slabs

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

    Wet snow avalanches will be possible today due to continued forecasted warm temperatures. The threat of human-triggered wet avalanches will increase as temperatures warm and the sun impacts the snowpack this morning. You're most likely to encounter these avalanches in steep, sunny, and rocky areas. Avalanches could be 1-2 feet thick and release without warning. Yesterday, cloud cover and sustained southern winds helped keep the snowpack cool and limit instabilities. Overnight temperatures below freezing allowed for a superficial refreeze. This refreeze combined with sustained winds today will continue to limit instabilities as a storm approaches this afternoon. 

    Managing this problem can be difficult. Pay attention to signs of warming. If you've found an unsupportable, mushy snowpack stay off of and away from avalanche paths and terrain with similar characteristics. Watch the sky, wind, and snow surface as you travel through the mountains. Terrain exposed to the sun and sheltered from the wind will heat up quickly. Don't let a refrozen crust catch you off guard either, remember that water and heat can remain deeper in the snowpack. Dig down into the snowpack to look for pooling water, a sign of unstable wet snow. Be mindful of cornices today. As temperatures increase, they will become more sensitive and could fail on sunny aspects during the heat of the day. 

     

    (4/4/2024)

    A D1.5 wet loose avalanche. Wet loose avalanches often start at a point, near exposed rocks or trees, and fan out as they travel downhill. 

    Photo: Cameron Galt

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Triggering a persistent slab avalanche is possible on weak snow buried 2-4 feet deep. The weak, sugary snow exists across all elevations and aspects except middle-elevation southerlies. The most probable areas to trigger a persistent slab avalanche include steep, rocky, and wind-affected slopes on the north half of the compass. These areas contain thin, shallow spots where riders can more easily impact weak layers. Shallower snow is also found east of the continental divide and south towards the Gros Ventre Range. Previous tracks on a slope are not an indicator of stability. Use caution in steep terrain and give yourself a wide margin of error on slopes with high consequences or near terrain traps. Move to low-angle terrain to avoid this problem. 

    The last known persistent slab avalanche occurred on 3/16 in Upper Deception Creek. On 3/19, a wet slab avalanche failing on these persistent weak layers occurred on Breccia. More avalanches such as these will likely occur today, and many problems may span the border between a wet slab and a persistent slab problem. However, both will be equally destructive avalanche types.

    (3/10/2024)

    A small, but deep snowmobile triggered avalanche visible from the road. This avalanche failed on weak snow near the ground. 

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Overnight temperatures dropped just below freezing at Togwotee's weather stations. A superficial refreeze combined with sustained southern winds will aid in limiting instabilities today. Clouds are also expected to build throughout the day. As cloud coverage builds, this will further limit instabilities due to heating. With that in mind, keep a watchful eye on the snowpack today. Temperatures will be cooler than yesterday, but as the sun comes out, the snowpack will absorb that energy quickly. pay attention to the winds, clouds, and temperatures. Remember if you feel hot, the snowpack probably does as well. The best riding will probably be found on lower-angle slopes protected from the wind. 

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