Tetons

It is unlikely that you will trigger an avalanche today. Isolated pockets of unstable snow may exist in very steep, rocky terrain that has been exposed to recent strong winds. The consequences of getting knocked off your feet above dangerous terrain remain high even when the avalanche danger is low. Travel one at a time and avoid terrain traps.

The last snowfall ended 9 days ago, and the snowpack continues to adjust and strengthen. Moderate to strong northwesterly winds have continued to erode and stiffen snow surfaces on exposed upper elevation slopes. There is little to no loose snow available for transport in the upper elevations, but continue to watch for isolated pockets of potentially unstable hard wind slab in very steep and unsupported terrain. Yesterday, a skier triggered one of these pockets in very steep and rocky terrain. Middle elevation snow surfaces are a mix of wind affected snow, crusts on solar aspects and faceted “recycled powder” on shaded aspects. These surface conditions can be challenging, variable, and change quickly based on location.

Deeper layers, including basal facets and crust/facet combinations in the middle of the snowpack are effectively dormant for the time being. The last reported event involving one of these layers occurred over two weeks ago on New Years day. Stability tests, which were producing mixed results around the new year, have trended towards non-propagating (stable) results. Avalanches involving deeper interfaces are very unlikely and would be considered an outlier event. 

Keep an eye out for terrain traps as you travel.  Tight gullies and rocky, unsupported slopes carry high consequences in the unlikely event of an avalanche. The recent fatality in the southern Salt River range is a sobering reminder that an isolated and relatively small avalanche in consequential terrain can have a tragic outcome. Even when the avalanche hazard is low, continue to travel one at a time, especially around very steep slopes above consequential areas and terrain traps.