Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

The general avalanche hazard is MODERATE today. Pockets of slabs up to four feet in depth lie upon persistent weak layers of faceted snow. These slabs could still be triggered by a single skier or snow machiner on steep slopes, even if that slope has been previously crossed multiple times. Sunday a group of riders triggered a large slide southeast of Afton. Two were carried and one was buried but dug out uninjured. The debris was reported as twenty feet deep and the slide ran a few hundred yards. The slope had been previously ridden. Remember, when on avalanche terrain to travel one at a time and observers should be out of the slide path.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. ) Clouds will increase this (Monday) evening ahead of an approaching cold front. Light snow will come after midnight and continue through Tuesday bringing two to three inches of snow to the mountains. Ridgetop winds will be southwest to westerly at 15 to 25 mph and daytime highs will reach the mid twneties.AVALANCHE HAZARD FOR THE TETON AREAThe general avalanche hazard is expected to settle to LOW at all elevations Tuesday. Backcountry users should remember that Low hazard can mean that slides are still possible and the forecast does not include extreme terrain like steep cliffs and chutes.AVLANCHE HAZARD FOR THE TOGWOTEE PASS/CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AREASThe general avalanche hazard is MODERATE. The shallow snowpack and weak faceted snow could see slides to two feet in depth triggered on steep slopes by the second or later traveller. GREYS RIVER/SOUTHWEST TRAILS AREAThe general avalanche hazard is MODERATE. Faceted snow deep in the snowpack continues to exist. Sunday one snowmobiler was buried and two were carried by a four foot deep slide on a west facing slope southeast of Afton. The slope had been travelled many times and highmarked before the slide. Debris was reported to be twenty feet deep. All involved were uninjured (except the machines). Backcountry users are advised to consult area specific forecasts issued every morning as expected conditions can change overnight due to unexpected weather developments and new information may become available.