Backcountry riders and skiers have the potential to trigger recently formed soft slabs as well as older and deeper slabs that could be soft or hard. Conservative snow pack and terrain evaluation is recommended.
Buried layers of faceted snow persist within the snowpack. Recently formed slabs lying upon surface hoar could be triggered with depths to 18 inches. Older slabs with depths to five feet could also be triggered. Failure of deeper layers is most probable in high avalanche starting zones.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Mostly cloudy skies with periods of light snow are expected tonight through the day on Friday. West-northwest winds are to have ten to twenty mile per hour averages. Temperatures are to be warmer with highs near twenty degrees expected. The general avalanche hazard will be Moderate on Friday. Wind slabs with depths to two feet could be triggered in steep wind loaded terrain above 8500 feet, particularly in snow loaded areas near cliffs and high ridges. Old persistent weaknesses exist in the snowpack. Activity involving these layers would be most likely occur in the Togwotee Pass area where the snowpack structure is poor and large slides could be triggered by the weight of a single person. Failure of deep layers in the Southwest Trails area may still be possible and deep failure in the Tetons in considered very unlikely at this time.
