Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Several layers of weak snow are buried in the snowpack. New snow and some wind are adding load throughout the range and building triggerable, new slabs in isolated areas. Be mindful that these slabs are resting on weak layers of snow. New snowfall today is not likely to bond well to the old snow surface especially on the crust on southerly aspects.  It is possible to trigger a slab up to two feet thick in most terrain and up to three feet thick in wind loaded areas.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    A loading event has brought improved skiing and riding conditions to our area, but our focus is still on how persistent weak layers will react to additional snowfall. Good things to keep in mind continually at Togwotee Pass are:

    1. Weak layers are buried ~2+' deep. These layers have produced large avalanches, sometimes triggered from large distances away, in this area. The pattern of activity outlined by these avalanches points to these layers being most unstable on slopes that face the sun, where they are accompanied by crusts, but they have also produced slides on shaded aspects. 
    2. A pile of large-grained, weak snow also exists near the ground across the middle elevations here. You are more likely to trigger slides on the weak layers higher up in the snowpack, but any slide triggered on this deeply buried weak snow is likely to be unsurvivable.

    The possibility of triggering a slide here will be on the table for some time to come. If you choose to enter avalanche terrain, be alert that at least one of these weak layers almost certainly exists in the snowpack underneath you. Even as the danger decreases we continue to advise cautious and conservative terrain selection. Be alert to the consequence of being caught in a large avalanche in the terrain you are recreating in.

    Mocassin Basin 9500' E aspect

    Photo: Cory Beattie

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Snow shower activity will contribute to new snow and wind slab problems today. Be mindful of wind speed and direction and be particularly wary of slopes that show signs of wind loading. Cornices are particularly large right now and are good indicators of the presence of wind slabs on slopes beneath. While wind slabs are not expected to be large, they could be large enough to step down into weak snow beneath and creaet a much larger avalanche. Cornice fall triggered a tleast one large, observed avalanche about a week ago. While cornice falls are unlikely today, it is worth keeping a distance from slopes beneath them and to stay further back than you may think necessary from the edge of ridges.

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