Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Yesterday skiers at an elevation of 9,560 feet near Teton Pass triggered a large slab avalanche on a steep northeast facing slope. Similar events could be triggered by snowmobilers or skiers today in steep avalanche prone terrain above an elevation of 8,000 feet in the Greys River forecast area. These dangerous slab avalanches can be triggered by the weight of a single person and on slopes with tracks. These slides will fail on a weak layer of faceted snow that persists near the base of the snowpack. This weak layer is easy to find if you dig down through the snow to the ground. If this layer is present in avalanche prone terrain, conservative terrain choices are warranted. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 8,000 feet.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2

    Large persistent slabs avalanches 2 to 4 feet in depth can be human triggered on steep slopes. These slabs are most likely to be triggered by snowmobilers and skiers on northeast through northwest aspects between an elevation of 8,000 and 9,500 feet but could be triggered on east through north to west aspects at those elevations and on a variety of aspects above an elevation of 9,500 feet. Weak faceted layers near the base of the snowpack are very slowly adjusting to an extended loading event that ended a week ago. Some slopes are stable, others are not, and it is difficult if not impossible to differentiate between the two. Patience is key with a persistent slab avalanche problem. The consequences of triggering one of these large slab avalanches are likely to be severe.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Skies will be partly cloudy. Temperatures will drop into the teens and 20's tonight and will rise into the 20's and 30's on Monday. Winds will be from the south to southwest at 15 to 20 miles per hour with higher gusts.Large slab avalanches can be triggered by humans in steep terrain at the mid and upper elevations. These slabs are mostly likely to be triggered by skiers, snowboarders and snowmobilers in steep avalanche prone terrain on northeast through northwest aspects between an elevation of 8,000 and 9,500 feet but could also be triggered on east through north to west aspects at those elevations and on a variety of aspects above an elevation of 9,500 feet. These dangerous slabs could be triggered by the weight of a single person and can be triggered on slopes with previous tracks. If triggered they will fail on a persistent weak layer of faceted snow near the base of the snowpack. They could be 2 to 4 feet deep. In these areas the general avalanche hazard is moderate. The general avalanche hazard is low below an elevation of 8,000 feet.

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