Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
3 · Considerable
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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Today’s avalanche danger will rise to Considerable with sunshine and rising temperatures. Avalanches involving recent snow will be likely on steep slopes at all elevations and large enough to bury a human. Watch for cracking in recent snow on shady slopes and snow becoming wet on sunny slopes. If you see signs of changing conditions, such as rollerballs or slushy snow, move to colder aspects and watch out for steep sunny slopes above you that might be warming faster than you expect.

Avalanche problems

  • Storm Slabs

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

    Snowfall ended early yesterday with up to 10 inches falling in the forecast zone on top of several inches that trickled in over the last few days. This snow has settled some and you could trigger a soft slab up to 14 inches in steep terrain. This problem exists on west through north through east aspects at middle elevations and all aspects at upper elevations. The sensitivity of this slab will increase with warming temperatures throughout the day. Watch for cracking and snow becoming moist and more cohesive throughout the day. As snow warms, move to the coldest and shadiest slopes you can find to avoid this problem.

    (3/31/2024)

    Multiple avalanches were observed and triggered, failing within the new snow between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, on different aspects up Prater Canyon. 

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

  • Loose Wet

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

    Wet loose avalanche activity is likely on southwest through south through southwest aspects at all elevations and east and west aspects at middle and upper elevations. The hazard will increase throughout the day with warming temperatures and solar input. It will not take long for snow surfaces exposed to the sun to become moist. Watch for rollerballs and pinwheels as the day warms and watch for natural activity starting in the morning hours. If snow becomes slushy, it’s time to move to shadier aspects. Be mindful of overhead hazard as steep slopes warm above you. Remember that these avalanches can run far and entrain large amounts of snow - a potentially hazardous situation if you are traveling in the bottom of a drainage with south-facing slopes above.

    (4/1/2024)

    Wet loose avalanche off Smoky Hollow Peak. 9100' East Facing. 

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

  • Wet Slabs

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

    It’s possible that we will see wet slab activity on lower and middle-elevation slopes on southwest through southeast aspects. This problem will only arise if enough heat is transferred into the snowpack to generate running water in the snowpack, causing failure at a buried interface. This is hard to predict but if it happens, expect to see failure at buried crusts from a week ago on southerly aspects. Traveling early on south-facing slopes before crusts melt and water begins to flow is the best way to avoid this problem. Isothermal, slushy snow is an indicator that you should exit to colder and shadier aspects.

    Wet avalanche from Red Creek. Avalanche started on a south aspect around 8700' 

    Photo: Cameron Galt

Avalanche Discussion

Keep your head on a swivel today - there is guaranteed to be avalanche activity. We are entering a few days of warm and sunny high pressure following several days of snowfall. As a result, we have several problems on the board. A variety of conditions will present today including crusty early morning snow on anything that was exposed to the sun and most slopes below 9000 feet. Dry snow remains on shady slopes above 9000 feet. The April sun will cause rapidly changing conditions and wet snow avalanches to begin this morning. A few considerations:

  • Natural avalanches are likely - be aware of steep overhead hazard above you as you ride and give trails a second thought that travel through tight drainages (terrain traps).
  • Steep southeast slopes will warm first followed by south and then southwest. Plan your day accordingly and be off or out from underneath those slopes in that order as things warm.
  • Rapidly changing conditions require route and time planning and warrant conservative decisions. Anticipate and adjust your plan if you see things changing sooner than expected.
  • Get out your mapping software of choice and draw your intended route. Choose some waypoints along the way and guess how long it will take to get there. Does your route put you on or traveling through steep sunny slopes after 11 am? Verify your time plan at the end of the day and see how close you were.  There are a few ways to estimate how long route legs will take including a Munter rate calculation if you are on foot/skis. It's worth a search if you are unfamiliar and will help with time planning. Some mapping software even integrates this tool when route planning. 

 

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