Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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

Approximately four feet of snow has fallen over the last week. Snowfall has and continues to be accompanied by strong southwest to northwest winds. Wind slabs could be easily triggered by riders or skiers at all elevations and all aspects. Once triggered these slabs could cause the failure of persistent deep slabs that lie upon weak snow near the base of the snowpack. Yesterday a snowboarder died in large avalanche with a two foot crown on the Pyramid which is located just to the south of Jensen Canyon in the Tetons. Yesterday a slide was triggered and hit the Greys river road five miles from the trailhead. Cautious route finding and decision making is essential today. Known avalanche paths and their run out zones should simply be avoided and safer, low angle, conservative terrain should be the focus of any backcountry travelers.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Skiers and riders could easily trigger new and recently developed soft wind slabs on all aspects and elevations. At the higher elevations, these slabs could have depths to three feet and fail on old hard surfaces or density breaks within the recent snowfall. At the lower elevations, they lie upon faceted snow and could release up to 18 inches deep. Beware of steep terrain with obvious areas of wind loading.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    Above 7,500 feet, hard slabs with depths to five feet lie upon persistent weak layers of faceted snow. Since Wednesday night, three inches of snow water equivalent have been added to the snowpack. Large triggers, such as groups of people, may be needed to trigger one of these slides. The release of a wind slab could also step down to these basal facets. If triggered, these slabs will carry high consequences. Continued loading throughout the day may stress these basal weak layers to the point of natural failure.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Another system is to bring snow tonight and Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory. A foot of new snow is possible at the higher elevations by Thursday and this snowfall is to be accompanied by strong west winds. Mountain temperatures are to reach near twenty degrees on Wednesday. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Considerable at the mid and high elevations on Wednesday. By the afternoon, the hazard could raise to HIGH above 9000 feet as natural avalanche activity becomes likely from the new snowfall and strong west winds. The avalanche problems includes new and recently formed wind slabs to 3 foot depths as well as persistent weaknesses which could result in large dangerous slabs to six foot depths in the Tetons or lesser depths in the Southwest Trails or Togwotee Pass areas. Below 7500 the avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate in the morning and could rise to Considerable in the afternoon depending on snowfall amounts at the lower elevations. Given the amount of loading over the last week and the forecasted heavy snowfall to come, cautious route finding and decision making are essential during this period. Known avalanche paths should simply be avoided and safer, low angle, conservative terrain should be the focus of backcountry travelers.

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