Avalanche forecast

Snake River Range

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Highlights

You are unlikely to trigger an avalanche in the backcountry today. Continue to use safe travel techniques and consider the consequences in the unlikely event that you trigger a persistent slab avalanche in very steep, rocky terrain. You'll find the best riding and most stable snow in wind-sheltered zones on shady aspects, mostly between 7-9,500'. Sunshine this afternoon will heat up snow surfaces with the potential for small human-triggered or even natural wet sluffs on a few sun-baked slopes.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Weak layers of snow are buried 2-4 feet deep on middle and upper-elevation shady slopes. You may see plenty of slopes that have tracks on the surface. Remember that it is the thin spots in the snowpack where your weight might reach down to impact this weak layer.  This avalanche problem type is most commonly found on isolated slopes with the following characteristics:

    • Very steep: slopes steeper than about 35 degrees. Convex and unsupported slopes are also most suspect.
    • Rocky: slopes with variable snow cover due to the roughness of the terrain. Think rocks beneath the surface perforating the strong slab above.
    • Wind-affected: slopes where winds produce variable snow depths. Scouring produces thin spots while deposits further stress the slab. 

     

Avalanche Discussion

Wind slabs are unlikely to avalanche today following 4-5 days of seetlement and bonding. Temperatures at night the past several days have been increasing with temperatures in the high twenties at 10,500' this morning. Given the warmth the past two days, natural wet, loose slides seem unlikely above 8,000' but pushing snow below you feet is definitely possible in extreme terrain. Wet, loose naturals from rocky areas below 7,000' (think Snake River Canyon and Greys River Road) wouldn't be surprising though the inversion temps should limit size and scope. 

The persistent slab problem remains on the list due to the potential, albeit unlikely, for a large and consequential avalanche. Despite the stubborn nature of the slab and the lack of recent triggering, the structure of the snow is still poor and worth keeping in mind in the isolated areas mentioned above. If I travelled to the area, dug a pit and didn't see this avalanche problem listed, I would be surprised.

Please continue to send us your observations. Thank you!

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