Togwotee Pass

The general avalanche hazard is MODERATE. Soft slabs one to three feet in depth and in isolated areas like the east face of Lava Mountain much deeper hard slabs exist and lie upon a base of weak faceted snow. These dangerous slabs are sensitive to human triggers and caution is advised on and beneath steep slopes that have not experienced recent avalanche activity.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )A couple of disturbances will bring some new snow to the region during the next two days. The first disturbance is weak and may bring a quick shot of light snow overnight with little real accumulation. The second disturbance is stronger and will move into the area late tomorrow night. On Wednesday skies will be cloudy with periods of light snowfall. Several inches of accumulation are possible. Temperatures will be in single digits at daybreak and rise into the 20s during the day. Winds will be westerly at 15 to 20 miles per hour.It has been several days since any new natural avalanche activity has been reported or observed. That said we believe the potential may persist for the weight of a single person to trigger a medium or large hard slab avalanche with a crown depth to six feet in steep avalanche paths that have not had recent avalanche activity.Snow and winds events continue to intermittently increase the load on existing instabilities and are forecast to continue into Thursday. This loading scenario is extending the duration of the time needed for the snowpack to adjust to the large load placed on it during the recent storm cycle.Due to the potential for a human to be able to trigger a hard slab avalanche of significant size the general avalanche hazard remains CONSIDERABLE in the Teton and Greys River Areas. In the Togwotee Pass Area the slabs are in general somewhat thinner, but still dangerous, and the general avalanche hazard is expected to be MODERATE.