Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Periods of intense snowfall and wind create dangerous avalanche conditions, and triggering an avalanche is likely today, especially at upper elevations. You're most likely to find trouble where the wind has formed fresh drifts around 1-2+ feet deep. Though less likely, new snow also stresses the weak snow buried deeper in the snowpack. This zone is large and incredibly variable. Cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making are essential today. Cracking, collapsing, and recent natural and human-triggered activity in this zone are obvious signs to back off steep terrain. 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Increasing snowfall rates today and shifting wind directions over the past 48 hours mean that slabs will be built in unexpected features. Expect these slabs to be 1-2+ feet deep along exposed ridges and in cross-loaded gullies as well as lower on slopes. Cracking and collapsing indicate that you’ve found a sensitive slab. Some slabs may feel like thick drifts, others may feel "upside-down," and your sled or boards sink easily to weaker snow beneath. Smooth, wave-like features usually indicate winded-loaded areas of snow at a glance. Snowfall today will continue to favor the range's Palisade, Salt, and Snake sections, with an additional 9" expected rapidly today. 

    Loose snow avalanches will likely occur in steep, rocky terrain. Though less of a hazard, these avalanches can move quickly, accumulate large masses of fresh snow, and easily carry a rider into unwanted terrain. 

    (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. 

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    While trending less likely, skiers and riders can trigger large hard slab avalanches failing on weak snow that persists in the middle of the snowpack. These slabs are 3-4 feet deep above 7,500’.   Your weight may more easily impact this weak snow at mid-elevations, where the slab is thinner or in rocky and wind-affected areas. The recent warm weather least impacted shaded aspects. As a result, they are the areas where it will be easiest to find the persistent slab problem. Triggering one of these avalanches is most likely in locations where the slab is at its thinnest, making it possible for humans to impact the weak layer. Avalanches involving new snow could step down to deeper layers in steep and sustained terrain.

    There will be a noticeable hardness change (hard to soft) in the middle of the snowpack at the January 4th interface. Digging and probing for depths to this interface can give you an idea of the slab's thickness in the terrain you wish to ride. If you are uncertain about the terrain around you, defaulting to simpler terrain remains a good call.

    (1/31/2024)

    Hard slab avalanche that likely occured during peak warming on 1/30 in Sheep Creek 9600' W aspect

    Photo: Alex Drinkard

Avalanche Discussion

Each new storm buries a new interface to think about. Depending on the older snow, the bond at this interface can vary significantly in strength. As the complexity of the snowpack increases, particularly during storms, it becomes more and more challenging to assess the stability of a given slope confidently. Obvious signs of instability may be hit-or-miss, depending on which portion of this zone you are in today. Be aware that new snow may exhibit persistent slab-like behavior and be triggered remotely or break onto less steep slopes. With increasing winds and crusts beneath many steeper slopes in the alpine,  lower-angled sheltered slopes may also offer the best riding conditions today. The weather is in flux, and change is happening at all elevations currently. Familiarize yourself with the snowpack in areas you frequent, keep your head on a swivel with incoming weather, know the people you like to get out with and how well you communicate—and choose terrain that fits your assessment of the above. 

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