Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 13 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Dangerous avalanche conditions exist due to several days of snowfall, sustained strong west winds and a snowpack with poor structure. Surface slabs formed by the recent winds lie in steep terrain at all elevations. Backcountry riders and skiers have the potential to trigger these slabs as well as deeper slabs that lie upon old buried weaknesses. Cautious route finding and conservative decision making is essential today.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Strong west to northwest winds have formed soft wind slabs on leeward slopes at all elevations. These slabs could be triggered with depths to two feet and could release naturally, particularly near high peaks and ridge crests where the most significant loading has occurred and where pieces of cornice may fall onto a slope. Once triggered these wind slabs could cause deeper weaknesses in the snowpack to fail.

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

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

    Weak layers of snow persist deep within the snowpack. Failure of large and dangerous hard slabs that lie upon these layers is hard to predict. The potential exists for them to fail to the weight of a single person and they are even more likely to fail to larger triggers such as the weight of a snowmachine, a group of skiers, or a moving surface slab. These slabs could have depths to six feet and the consequences of being caught would most likely be fatal.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Temperatures are to remain cold as unstable air continues to cross the area. Periods of snow are likely and although there is not significant moisture associated with this system, the cold temperatures will aid in production of light snow and localized areas could see 6-10 inches by Saturday afternoon. These periods of snow will continue Saturday night. High temperatures should reach the upper teens in the mountains. Winds are to remain strong in the Southwest trails area with 30-40 mph averages while winds in the Teton and Togwotee areas are to be lower with 15-20 mph averages expected.The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Considerable in all three forecast areas. New and recently formed wind slabs with depths to three feet could be triggered on leeward slopes. Additional hazard lies in deep weaknesses within the snowpack. These slabs are dangerous due to the fact that failure at these greater depths is very difficult to predict but if triggered, these slabs will be very large and involve old hard snow. It would be very unlikely to survive one of these large destructive avalanches and large avalanche paths that are prone to heavy wind loading should be avoided.

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