Avalanche forecast

Snake River Range

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 7 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Evaluate very steep terrain, especially in the alpine, for signs of wind affected snow before committing to your line. The snowpack is trending towards stability but it remains possible to trigger an avalanche in isolated areas, particularly above 10,000’. Instability may increase in the heat of the day, especially on sunny aspects.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Wind slabs have had some time to settle, but very steep terrain around rocks and cliffs in alpine terrain should remain on your radar for another day. Temperatures at 9,000’ are in the upper twenties this morning, much warmer than valley locations due to the temperature inversion in place. Keep an eye on snow surfaces today as high, thin clouds and light winds in sheltered locations could make slabs lose strength. Heating could also generate some wet loose activity.

    (1/10/2026)

    Use caution around cornices.

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1–2

    Weak layers buried two to five feet deep should remain on your radar. The most recent avalanches on deep weak layers required very large loads or explosives to trigger. Human triggering of deep, weak layers is unlikely but can’t be ruled out. Certain terrain and snowpack configurations like very steep, unsupported slopes, heavily wind-affected areas, or very large triggers like falling cornices should be considered. 

    (1/9/2026)

    Slab avalanche from 1/9 that failed on a buried crust/weak layer combination. This was remotely triggered in the northern end of the Salt River Range in Prater Canyon.

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

It’s difficult to remain completely unaffected by recent avalanche deaths when forecasting. The accident that occurred Sunday in LaBarge Creek is a reminder of the spatial variability that exists in any snowpack and that a rare, outlying weak layer, in this case surface hoar in a wind-sheltered creek bottom, can lead to disaster. Today may be the day to remove wind slabs as an avalanche problem given that three days have passed since the last one was triggered. But it’s hard to ignore the current inverted temperatures and the cloud cover forecast which shows the potential for some “greenhouse” warming on what has been a very weird snowpack this season. There are a few maybe’s regarding cloud thickness, distribution, solar gain and wind speeds to keep in mind today so you’ll need to monitor temperature and wind speed carefully and remember that thin clouds can heat even shady slopes.  Remember that safe travel in avalanche terrain should always include moving one at a time to islands of safety in suspect terrain, watching your partner at all times and considering the consequences of triggering a slope if any doubt about stability remains in your mind.  

Here is a preliminary look at the accident site and the snowpack in LaBarge Creek made yesterday.

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