Tetons

Very strong southerly winds at all elevations Monday, and overnight from the west, combined with up to 21 inches of new snow to create sensitive slabs to three feet in depth on lee slopes. The winds created slabs as low as the valley floor where a large slide ran on the cut bank behind the Stagecoach Bar in Wilson. A ski patrolman was partially buried at the Jackson Hole Resort while exiting the mountain after all lifts were closed due to extreme winds. The slide occurred in an area cleaned out by explosive charges only three hours earlier. Seven inches of new snow have fallen since that event. The incomming snow Monday fell warm and rests on weak, light-density snow making an ustable, "upside-down" situation. TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED.