Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

DANGEROUS UNSTABLE CONDITIONS EXIST ON STEEP SLOPES. The general avalanche hazard is CONSIDERABLE. Human triggered avalanches are likely on a variety of aspects. In the western mountains of Wyoming there were numerous close calls over the weekend. One snowmobiler was seriously injured in an avalanche near Togwotee Pass. Dense surface slabs up to three feet deep have loaded a snowpack with persistent, weak depth hoar at its base. People who venture onto steep slopes could trigger dense surface slabs to 3 feet deep and/or full depth hard slab avalanches to the ground. Large slides were observed yesterday just north of the Forecast area in the Snake River Range.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The general avalanche hazard in the Tetons and Togwotee Pass areas will be MODERATE Tuesday. Backcountry travelers could trigger slabs 18 inches to 3 feet in depth on steep slopes. There were a number of close calls and partial burials over the long weekend. There have been no deep, hard-slab slides in February in the Tetons and the possibility of releasing them is diminishing.On Saturday a snowmobiler, stuck on a west facing slope near Brooks Lake, was injured in a slide when another rider rode onto the slope to help him. The weight of the two machines, riders and the weakening of the slope by their tracks, all helped trigger the slide. Similar results should be expected even on slopes that otherwise may seem stable.In the Greys River area the hazard is expected to remain CONSIDERABLE. Dense surface slabs to 3 feet in depth could be triggered on a variety of aspects. Large slides were observed Monday just north of the Greys River/Southwest Trails forecast area. A more sensitive snowpack in the region has resulted in a number of close calls. As the new snow settles it will be particularly easy to trigger avalanches on steep terrain by high marking.