Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

It is unlikely that you will trigger an avalanche today. Chances remain highest in steep, rocky terrain on northerly aspects where small slabs could be 1-3 feet deep. Although unlikely, the consequences of an avalanche could be high, particularly in terrain where you will be strained through trees, rocks or pushed into terrain traps. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Unlikely, but not impossible. That is the current situation. The persistent slab problem remains on slopes where December snow fell and formed a slab that buried weak, sugary snow left over from a cold and dry November. You are most likly to find this problem above 8500' on northwest through northeast aspects. These slabs could be 1-3 feet thick. Southern aspects did not harbor as much of this weak snow, particularly at lower elveations, and the strong diurnal temperatures over the last couple weeks helped the snowpack adjust to the current load. Within the Grays River zone, snow depths vary widely between the Snake River Range, Salt River Range and Wyoming Range. As a rule, the Salt River Range has the deepest snowpack. While it is unlikely that you will impact the weak layer in a way to trigger an avalanche, there are still areas that carry high consequence from even a small avalanche. Continue to trench your sled track or probe with a ski pole to confirm or deny the presence of weak, sugary snow below you.

    Watch out for steep, rocky, unsupported  slopes. Remember that you might find the trigger even after multiple people have ridden the same slope. Size up the slope before you ride it and consider what would happen if you triggered a small slab. Would it drag you through shallow rocks or into a terrain trap? Steer clear.

     

    (12/15/2023)

    Natural avalanche 10,500' SE aspect likely occured on 12/10 after loading event when winds increased. 

    Photo: Alex Drinkard

Avalanche Discussion

We have not had a reported avalanche or significant loading event in over two weeks. The danger has been reduced and we have a low avalanche danger today at all elevations. Does this mean we are in the clear and can go tee off? I wish. The ingredients for a slab avalanche still remain in the snowpack. We have a slab of December snow sitting over weak, sugary snow from November. While it is unlikely that you will trigger an avalanche, I still won’t enter steep, rocky, unsupported slopes with any sort of consequence. There are still hints in the snowpack that make me nervous in  those specific terrain situations. Even a small slab can have high consequences when combined with a thin snowpack that contains hidden obstacles or if you get knocked off your feet above a cliff. 

There are more and more tracks out there that suggest stability but we know that the weak layer can still be impacted even after many riders. Enjoy the good snow that can be found on shady aspects but don’t let consequential terrain catch you off guard.

The dry spell that ended two days ago left us with several surface conditions that will be worth tracking moving forward. The strong diurnal temperature swings created crusts on south aspects and faceted snow on shady aspects as well as surface hoar on multiple aspects and elevations. As you ride, dig around and see whats under the latest few inches - it might help predict where future problems are located when we get our next big snow load.

 

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