Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sun
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
No rating
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

New snow combined with old wind slabs sit atop weak, sugary snow. Triggering an avalanche in steep terrain is possible today. Seek out sheltered, lower angle slopes in order to avoid triggering these old wind slabs. Slab avalanches up to 4’ thick are possible.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The east wind event last week built thick slabs atop weak snow on leeward slopes. The slabs are thick in areas downwind of expansive fetches where lots of old snow was available to be transported across the ground and into avalanche start zones. These old slabs are the primary concern today. You are most likely to find these slabs in areas that you aren’t used to seeing due to that easterly wind direction and extreme velocity. They’ll be stubborn and difficult to trigger but potentially large. Any avalanches this time of year on a thin snowpack can be particularly dangerous due to the many rocks and other obstacles lurking near the surface.

    (11/24/2023)

    Natural wind slab that did not run due to shallow slope angle. This is a good example of the potetnial size of the wind slabs that are sitting atop weak snow.

    Photo: Travis Baldwin

Avalanche Discussion

Four inches of new snow overnight is not adding much load to the weak layers in Togwotee but it will obscure surface clues and shallowly bury obstacles. Pillows and drifts of old snow may still be visible if you look carefully but it may be best to assume that any smooth slope may have been loaded or cross-loaded by the unusual wind event. Remember that most south and east facing slopes were stripped almost bare by the high winds.Those slopes now have only four inches of new snow on them. You’ll find decent riding in the meadows, though coverage remains thin.

Regions covered