Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
4 · High
Treeline
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago.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

New snow and wind are creating very dangerous avalanche conditions. Natural avalanches 2-4’ thick are likely in steep, wind-loaded terrain. Today is a good day to stick to lower-angled terrain and avoid exposure to avalanches from above.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Over the past 48 hours, winds have transported new snow, increasing the avalanche danger today.  Sensitive slabs of wind-drifted snow 2 - 4 feet deep are likely in high-elevation exposed terrain. These wind slabs may crack over a long distance given the weak layer of snow beneath the surface throughout the zone.  Avoid pillowed drifts, corniced slopes, and leeward terrain features such as cliff bands, sub-ridges, and gullies. Winds can load and crossload any aspect given their direction and speed.

    (2/13/2024)

    Togwotee Pass roadside terrain trap, 9100', north aspect wind loaded. D1.

    Photo: Travis Baldwin

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Multiple persistent weak layers exist within the snowpack. The newest weak layer, buried on February 2nd, is now covered in 2 - 4 feet of snow on average. You will most likely trigger these avalanches on east, north, and west-facing slopes. Over the past 24 hours, the Togwotee area has received 6 - 10 inches of new snow (.75 - 1  inches of SWE). The sudden weight of this new snow has increased the likelihood of triggering an avalanche on one of these weak layers. This is especially likely in areas where winds have drifted new snow, increasing stress on the weak layers. 

    This avalanche problem can be triggered remotely, from flat terrain, and propagate in unexpected ways through terrain features. Avoid steep rocky outcroppings and convexities where the snowpack may be thin. Obvious signs of instability such as cracking and collapsing may not be present before an avalanche releases.

    (2/13/2024)

    Togwotee Pass, northwest shoulder Radio Tower, 10,400', northwest aspect. Natural D2 in wind affected terrain, down to December weak snow.

    Photo: Travis Baldwin

Avalanche Discussion

The story of the snowmobiler buried and killed in the Sierra Madre Range last Friday is important so I'll repeat it today in this zone forecast. This rider lost his life riding not in, but below avalanche terrain when is party triggered an avalanche while they rode carefully around rocks on a relatively flat slope. While the avalanche only slid 300-400 feet vertically, it propagated almost 2100' across the slope. The set-up for this avalanche was not that different from the situation you could find in Togwotee, especially tomorrow. A slab of new snow sitting on a very weak layer, made worse by wind loading high on a ridgeline. There are many take-aways from the accident that will be available in a forth-coming report but several jump to mind.   

  • Route finding matters a lot. When remote triggering is possible, which is the case whenever you have a deep and sensitive weak layer, give slopes a wide berth.
  • Rescue skills matter. Shovel and probe belong on your back, not your sled. This may not have changed the outcome in this incident, but seconds count. The victim, whose hand and feet were out of the snow, asphyxiated in 4-5 minutes.

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