Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Triggering a large avalanche breaking 2-4 feet deep remains likely on steep slopes. Avalanches are less likely—but still possible—in more sheltered terrain. Be conservative with decision-making around slopes steeper than 30°, as even small avalanches pose a more significant hazard due to the terrain-trap features common here. Warning signs like collapsing and crackling may not be evident until it’s too late and you trigger an avalanche.  

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–3

    Several feet of recent snowfall has fallen on a weak snow interface. This interface is now buried beneath a slab of snow that is 2-4 feet thick and, if triggered, can propagate across large distances and make escape impossible. Obvious signs of instability, such as cracking, collapsing, or recent natural avalanche activity, are not likely to present themselves before triggering a large avalanche.  Entering terrain over 35 degrees will increase the odds of triggering an avalanche today. Keep terrain choices simple by sticking to lower-angled terrain and be especially wary of the creekbeds and flat terrain that create unsurvivable terrain traps.

    Weak snow near the base of the snowpack lurks 2-5 feet below the surface. New snow and wind are stressing these weak layers. Avalanches involving these layers could occur with a significant trigger, such as a large wind slab avalanche, a passing snowmobile, or a group gathered below a slope. 

Avalanche Discussion

The current avalanche scenario has very low feedback and is variable across locations in the zone. You may not receive any signs a slope is unstable, even after multiple tracks on a slope.  How else does one receive feedback when the environment doesn't provide it? Digging and probing will add some data points to your slope-by-slope feedback. With any snowpack, it's very important to recognize when you are dealing with a more complex problem than we as humans can typically fully understand.   Hopefully, we’ll have more evidence to pull from after this series of storms. I say “hopefully” because there’s an overarching "I guess we’ll wait and see if certain things avalanche naturally or not," while considering that we still see such a small portion of a mountain range and what has avalanched or not for feedback in a cycle. Pad any uncertainty you have today by building a wide buffer zone for error in your travel practices.

Please continue to send in your observations. Thanks!

 

 

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