Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Tue
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Look for unstable snow on steep, wind loaded terrain in upper elevations where small, shallow avalanches are possible to trigger. Otherwise, mostly stable avalanche conditions exist. Practice safe travel habits and assess the snowpack to account for the uncertainty of deeper weak layers if traveling into very steep, consequential terrain.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Weak snow formed in December is buried by hard slabs 2-5 feet deep. The possibility of triggering an avalanche on these weak layers near the ground is very unlikely across the majority of terrain. The last reported avalanche occurred 26 days ago. Due to poor snowpack structure, there is a slight possibility that an outlier avalanche event could occur in isolated terrain. This would most likely be in terrain over 35° steep on convex, unsupported slopes that are rocky and wind affected. Any combination of these characteristics often harbors shallower snow and increases the likelihood of impacting weak layers buried near the ground.

Avalanche Discussion

Low Danger Does Not Mean No Danger

Togwotee received around 3 inches of snow over the weekend that was accompanied by enough westerly wind to form shallow, soft wind slabs less than 6 inches deep. These wind slabs were reactive yesterday on leeward and cross-loaded terrain features above 9,000’. Look for obvious signs of wind loaded slopes including shooting cracks and fresh drifts. Although not large enough to bury a person, these avalanches could knock you off your feet or machine.

Deeper in the snowpack, weak basal facets (with some areas harboring depth hoar) have adjusted to the overlying hard slab and are becoming very difficult to impact. As the slab and weak layers gain strength over time, the likelihood of triggering an avalanche decreases. This process is slow and takes time. For this reason, we are not 100% sure that an outlier avalanche could not occur, hence why we have kept the persistent slab problem on the forecast. Assess the snowpack for yourself before committing to very steep, consequential terrain. Slopes above terrain traps should always warrant caution.

Prior to the slight snowfall over the weekend, the forecast area has been dry for nearly 2 weeks. Weak layers of facets and surface hoar developed on the snow surface during this period. If you are venturing into the backcountry, assess how these weak layers are preserved by the new snow. These layers will be worth tracking once the snow starts falling again. Consider submitting an observation to help keep everyone informed on backcountry conditions. We receive very few observations in this zone. 

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