Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Today’s avalanche danger will rise to the high end of Moderate with sunshine and rising temperatures. You're most likely to trigger an avalanche on steep, upper-elevation slopes where wind has affected recent snow.  If you find stiff drifts or shooting cracks, move to more sheltered slopes. If you see signs of changing conditions, such as rollerballs or slushy snow, move to colder aspects and watch out for steep sunny slopes above you that might be warming faster than you expect.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Slabs up to 20 inches exist on all aspects at upper elevations. Northwest winds have loaded predominately south through east aspects. However, it is still possible to find this problem in cross-loaded terrain on other aspects.  Various crusts and weak interfaces exist in the top of the snowpack and slabs may break bigger than expected.  Keep an eye out for stiff pillows, hollow-sounding drifts, and cracking around your skis or sled.  Larger or older slabs may not give any clues before it's too late.  As the day heats up, the sensitivity of these slabs may increase. Avoid steep wind-affected terrain near ridges, below cliffs, and in crossloaded terrain features.

    Minimize time spent under cornices. These can break unexpectedly and are more sensitive to warming temperatures. Cornices can act as large triggers and impact deeper weak layers.

    (4/1/2024)

    Cliffbase soft slab avalanche from the southeast ridge of Starvation Peak. NE at 9400'. 

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

  • Loose Wet

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Wet loose avalanche activity is possible on most steep slopes that see the sun.  While the Greys have already gone through a wet loose cycle that started on 4/1, increasing temperatures will keep this problem on the radar. The hazard will increase throughout the day with warming temperatures and solar input. It will not take long for snow surfaces exposed to the sun to become moist. Watch for rollerballs and pinwheels as the day warms and watch for activity starting in the morning hours. If snow becomes slushy, it’s time to move to shadier aspects. Be mindful of overhead hazard as steep slopes warm above you. Remember that these avalanches can run far and entrain large amounts of snow - a potentially hazardous situation if you are traveling in the bottom of a drainage with south-facing slopes above.

    (4/1/2024)

    Wet loose avalanche off Smoky Hollow Peak. 9100' East Facing. 

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

We are a day into some warm and sunny high pressure following several days of snowfall and high winds in the alpine.  The day will start out with some crusty early morning snow on anything that was exposed to the sun and most slopes below 8500 feet. Dry snow remains on shady slopes above 9000 feet. The April sun will cause rapidly changing conditions and increase the hazard throughout the day.

A few considerations:

  • Natural avalanches are still possible - be aware of steep overhead hazard above you as you ride and give trails a second thought that travel through tight drainages (terrain traps).
  • Steep southeast slopes will warm first followed by south and then southwest. Plan your day accordingly and be off or out from underneath those slopes in that order as things warm.
  • Rapidly changing conditions require route and time planning and warrant conservative decisions. Anticipate and adjust your plan if you see things changing sooner than expected.
  • Wanna geek out and practice some navigation skills? Great, keep reading, otherwise stop here. Get out your mapping software of choice and draw your intended route. Choose some waypoints along the way and estimate how long it will take to get there. There are a few ways to estimate how long route legs will take including a Munter rate calculation if you are on foot/skis. It's worth a search on the interwebs if you are unfamiliar with it and will help with time planning. Some mapping software even integrates this tool when route planning. Does your route put you on or traveling through steep sunny slopes after 10 am? Verify your time plan at the end of the day and see how close your actual time was to your estimate.  Don't forget to add in your snack breaks.

 

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