Togwotee Pass

The general avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE. Dangerous conditions exist. Multiple incidents occurred in all of our forecast areas yesterday afternoon. Snowmobilers in terrain above Ski Lake reported that an extremely large full depth hard slab avalanche released on a northeast aspect. The crown was reported to be up to 12 feet deep and 2,000 feet long. It took out mature trees. In the Snake River Range a skier was caught and deployed an airbag as he was being swept downhill. He was partially buried but not injured. A different slope failed after being crossed by the fifth skier. On Togwotee Pass two snowmobilers were caught and injured by a hard slab avalanche. Three people have been killed or seriously injured by avalanches in the past three days in Utah and Idaho. On steep slopes, dangerous full depth hard slabs could be triggered by a single person or more likely by a snowmobile. Conservative decisions regarding terrain selection are essential today.