Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The general avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE. Three feet of new snow ending Monday combined with westerly winds to create easily triggered soft slabs to three feet in depth on steep, lee slopes. The potential also continues to trigger deeper, hard-slab avalanches that rest on weak snow at the base of the snowpack. Hard slabs are unpredictable and may be released after a slope has been ridden several times. Careful route-finding and conservative decision-making are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain today.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. ) The general avalanche hazard in the Tetons and Greys River areas is expected to be CONSIDERABLE Monday. Soft slabs to four feet deep from the newer snow and deeper, hard slabs could be triggered by backcountry travelers in steep areas. Most recent activity has had some common elements: Very steep slopes, good build-up of snow from ridge-crest winds or cliffs above and underlying faceted snow. As the snowpack settles slides may release with the first person on a slope or after a few people have passed. The presence of several people in avalanche terrain is not an indication of stability. In the Togwotee Pass area where less snow has fallen the hazard is expected to remain MODERATE where a chance of triggering hard slabs to three feet in depth is becoming more unpredictable.