Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist. Human triggered avalanches are likely due to the combination of snowfall, wind loading, and buried weak layers. Cautious route finding and conservative decision making are essential for safe travel in the mountains today. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–3

    Buried weak layers exist within the snowpack, especially on high elevation southerly aspects and mid elevation northerly aspects. Steep rocky starting zones on upper elevation Northerly and Easterly terrain also contain weak faceted snow. Southerly aspects have a crust/facet combination from the mid November period at the upper elevations in steep terrain. Northerly aspects have buried surface hoar and near surface facets, especially at the mid elevations in wind sheltered areas. Very steep and rocky terrain on North/East aspects is also suspect. Slab depths could be in excess of 4 feet at the upper elevations and around 2-3 feet at the mid elevations. 

  • Wind Slabs

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

    New snow and wind over the last 24 hrs will combine to form wind slabs that are up to 2 ft thick.

Avalanche Discussion

The Togwotee area recieved less snow than both the Tetons and the southern ranges, with the west side of the pass picking up a little more that the east side of the divide. Winds averaged out of the SSW on Grouse and Lava in the 10-20 mph range, but with low density snow (6 percent water content) wind slabs will still be present. 

Poor snow structure with buried weak layers exist on the high south aspects as well as the mid and upper elevation northerly aspects. Upper elevation west aspects are also suspect with the potential of cross loading from southerly winds. 

Regions covered