The snowpack is very weak and avalanches could easily be triggered by riders and skiers in steep terrain at all elevations. Avoid even small slopes that could have harsh consequences due to terrain traps such as gullies, trees, or rocks.
Hard slabs 1-3 feet deep lie above weak layers formed during prolonged drought conditions in December. The highest likelihood of triggering an avalanche will be on N and E aspects where the most natural avalanche activity occurred but activity on other aspects can not be ruled out.
(1/20/2024)
This avalanche depicts the terrain to avoid that is very steep and dangerous.
Photo: Matthew Tousignant
In a snowpack wrought with weakness, restraint and vigilance will be necessary to avoid avalanche incidents in the foreseeable future. As the chance to trigger a slide slowly decreases, it is not really indicating the snowpack is healing. The weakness remains preserved in the snowpack. Additionally new weakness are forming that will be promlematic with future storms. Do not overthink this, the simple truth is human triggered slides are possible at all elevations and could be quite large at the high elevations. At this time, steepness is a key element in what is more likely to slide and remember that slides have been occurring in all types of steep terrain, including trees. Avalanches could also occur when first impacting a fresh slope or after it has been tracked several times. Reports of large collapsing, snow-pit details, and continued reports of large avalanches that occurred sometime during the last two weeks support the existence and extent of the weak snow layer in western Wyoming. Stick to flatter terrain that has low to no terrain consequences.
