Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The General Avalanche Hazard is MODERATE. Surface slabs up to two feet in depth resting on buried surface hoar and suncrusts remain susceptible to human triggers on steep, wind loaded slopes. More than one person on a slope at a time or several passes over the same slope may trigger these slides. Also deep slab instabilities continue to weaken and have the potential of failing to the ground carrying the entire snowpack. These slabs can tolerate several passes befor sliding and are very unpredictable. Finally, warm temperatures also bring the possibility of natural or human triggered wet, loose sloughs in steep areas with good sun exposure. Such slides can become dangerous if they entrain enough snow.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. ) An upper level ridge will dominate the weather. A weak disturbance ahead of the ridge could bring isolated snow flurries to the mountains Tuesday night then Wednesday will be dry with 10,000 foot temperatures reaching or climbing above the freezing point. Winds will be light out of the West. The General Avalanche Hazard in the TETON area will continue MODERATE on Tuesday. The possibility of backcountry travelers finding and triggering pockets of surface slabs one to two feet in depth persists on steep, wind loaded slopes. The General Avalanche Hazard in the CONTINENTAL DIVIDE/TOGWOTEE PASS and SOUTHWEST TRAILS/GREYS RIVER areas will be MODERATE. In addition to the possibility of triggering pockets of surface slabs similar to those in the Teton area, persistent deep slab instabilities continue to weaken the foundation of the snowpack. Another hard slab was triggered on the south side of East Angle Mountain in the Togwotee Pass area Sunday. Similar slides can be expected in avalanche terrain Tuesday. Stay in areas with trees or travel on ridge crests as the the strength of the snow weakens and such slides become easier to release.