Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
No rating
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Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist today and human triggered avalanches are likely. Since Thursday morning,one to two feet of snow has fallen on Togwotee Pass. Rapid loading and moderate winds, combined with weak snow on the old surface as well as deeper in the snowpack,  has formed cohesive that will be sensitive to recreational skiers and riders. Although much colder temperatures will have made avalnche release less sensitive than the past 2 days, any steep terrain is suspect today and conservative terrain selection is the best way to avoid an avalanche accident.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Recently fallen snow and wind from varying direction have formed soft surface slabs. These slabs lie on a variety of weak surfaces including surface hoar, near surface facets, crusts and wind pack. Riders and skier can trigger these soft slabs in any steep avalanche terrain with depths to two feet. Stay out of avalanche starting zones and steep banks where even small slides can be problematic.

    Natural on Grouse Mountain reported 1/28

     

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    2–3

    The snowpack at Togwotee contains old buried weak layers. These layers are thin in some areas, and involve large portions of the snowpack in other areas. Slides involving these old layers are likely to release as large and dangerous hard slabs with depths to 4 feet.  These slabs are difficult or "stubburn" to trigger and may require a larger trigger such as the release of a wind slab or a rider impacting a particularly thin and weak spot on a slope. 

Avalanche Discussion

Togwotee Pass recieved less snow than the Tetons during the last few days however given the way this storm impacted localized terrain differently, it is likely that many mountain locations in this zone recieved over 2 feet of snow.  Wind is equally difficult to summarize. Winds at the onset of precipitaion were from the west, but have veered to the south and may become more easterly. Areas prone to wind loading are ripe for action involving the new snow, while predicting failure of deeper layers is more difficult but will be most dangerous in the same locations as the new snow layers. Temperatures dropped to well below zero over night and are expected to remain cold. This will decrease sensitivity quickly but unstable slabs remain widespread today. Yesterday slides were reported on Grouse Mountain and other natural slides were reported including some that impacted the groomed trail.

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