Tetons

At the upper elevations isolated pockets of dense surface slab 6 to 18 inches in depth lie upon slick crusts in cliff areas and steep wind loaded starting zones. Yesterday a skier triggered one of these slabs on a steep wind loaded southeast aspect at an elevation of 9,200 near Holly Lake in the Tetons and was partially buried. These slabs could sweep a skier or snow boarder over a cliff or bury someone in a terrain trap. At the mid and lower elevations melt-freeze crust will soften as temperatures warm. Once softening occurs wet slides are possible on steep snow covered slopes. These wet slides could release to the ground especially in steep rocky areas with a shallow snowpack.