Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 years ago.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

Highlights

A 45-year snowboarder was buried and died in avalanche in the backcountry near the Canyons Ski Resort in Utah yesterday morning. Our sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and those involved in this incident. Conditions are prime for a serious avalanche accident in our forecast region. On Saturday a large slab avalanche was remotely triggered by skiers on an east aspect of Breccia Mountain. A large slab avalanche was remotely triggered by skiers in the Teton Range yesterday. These dangerous avalanches are failing on a weak persistent layer of faceted snow and could easily bury and kill a skier, snowboarder or snowmachiner. The avalanche hazard is low below an elevation of 8,000 feet and in areas above that elevation where weak faceted snow does not exist at the base of the snowpack.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Dangerous persistent slab avalanches up to 3 feet in depth can be easily triggered by the weight of a single person. Dangerous slopes are steep and have a persistent weak layer of faceted snow at the base of the snowpack. These large slides are most likely to be triggered on northeast, east and north facing slopes, however they can occur on west through north to east aspects above an elevation of 8,000 feet and have occurred on all aspects at the higher elevations. These persistent slab avalanches can be triggered remotely and may propagate long distances. Previous tracks are not an indication of stability.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Snow shower activity is anticipated to end overnight with little new snow accumulation. Skies will be mostly sunny on Monday. Temperatures will mostly in the single digits above and below zero. Valley temperatures may rise into the teens. Winds will back to the west, be light in the morning and increase to 15 to 20 with higher gusts in the afternoon.Conditions are prime for a serious avalanche accident in our forecast region. Persistent slab avalanches 2 to 4 feet in depth can be easily triggered at the mid and upper elevations by the weight of a single person. Dangerous slopes are steep and have a persistent weak layer of faceted snow at the base of the snowpack. These large slides are most likely to be triggered on northeast, east and north facing slopes, however they can occur on west through north to east aspects at the mid elevations and have occurred on most aspects at the higher elevations. In these areas the general avalanche hazard is expected to be considerable. The general avalanche hazard below an elevation of 7,500 feet and in areas above that elevation that were weak faceted snow does not exist at the base of the snowpack is low.

Regions covered