Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

The snowpack is weak. Backcountry riders and skiers have the potential to trigger slab avalanches in steep terrain recently loaded by this week's storm cycle. This possiblity will continue today with the most sensitive areas being at higher elevations and terrain east of the Continental Divide where the most snow is forecast to fall. Yesterday an avalanche was reported to have released naturally on southeast aspect on Angle mountain. Similar events are possible today. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Avalanches involving old weak snow layers are possible today.  Although the slabs themselves may be recently formed by this week's snowfall and wind, they lay on weak snow layers and could behave as persistient slabs, meaning they could propogate long distance and could be triggered remotely while approaching or being under a slope. Caution and conservative decision making is necessary to avoid this avalanche problem. If triggered these slabs could be soft or hard and have depths to three feet. 

Avalanche Discussion

Happy New Year. The slide on East Angle is representative of the fragile snowpack at Togwotee. Getting consistent snowfall is the way to burying the weak snow layers and make them less of a concern. However, the lower portion of the snowpack is so wrought with weak snow that it will take considerably more storms and a deeper snowpack before triggering avalanches on old layers is not a concern. For now, patience and conservative decisions are the way to navigate this hazard. 

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