Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Triggering an avalanche up to a foot deep is possible in steep terrain above 8,000’ today. Recent avalanches, shooting cracks, and collapses in the snowpack are obvious signs of instability. However, these signs may not be present before triggering. Giving steep and consequential terrain a wide margin is the best way to avoid avalanche involvement today.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Weak layers of snow including surface hoar and facets that formed during a month-long dry period in January were recently buried by about a foot of snow. Multiple soft slab avalanches involving these layers were triggered by riders in adjacent zones yesterday. Lower snowfall totals have made triggering one of these avalanches less likely in the Salt/Wyoming ranges. However, there are isolated pieces of very steep terrain where riders may be able to trigger a small avalanche. Sheltered north facing slopes are where this problem is most likely to be found, but other aspects cannot be ruled out given the spotty distribution of weak snow. Use caution if you are finding over a foot of recent snow on top of weak, sugary snow from January.

    Check out the recent avalanche activity in other forecast zones here.

    A snomobile triggered avalanche near Togwotee Pass that occurred on 2/13. Triggering a slab like this is possible in isolated pieces of terrain in the Salt/Wyo Ranges.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Winds have been relatively light over the past several days leaving loose snow on the surface in most upper elevation terrain. Wind speeds have increased out of the SW this morning and are forecasted to stay elevated today as a storm system passes to the north. Be on the lookout for soft slab formation in wind loaded terrain above 9,000’. These slabs will likely be on the smaller side with depths up to a foot, but may be sensitive to the weight of a rider in very steep terrain. Blowing snow and shooting cracks in the snow surface are signs of wind slab development.

Avalanche Discussion

A month-long dry period ended early this week as welcomed storms brought up to a foot of new snow with little wind to the Salt River and Wyoming Ranges. This new snow has settled and formed soft slabs that are sitting on a variety of surfaces that formed in January. Prior to this week’s snowfall, hard crusts existed on south facing slopes, wind hardened surfaces were present in exposed terrain above 9,500’, and faceted snow with patches of surface hoar could be found in shady sheltered terrain above 8,000’. The latter of those surfaces is most concerning now that it is buried. Not enough new snow has fallen in this zone to create much of a slab and therefore avalanche activity has been limited. Still, the potential to find the right recipe for an avalanche remains in isolated pieces of very steep north facing terrain. Careful evaluation of the snowpack and terrain is recommended before committing to steep consequential terrain.

Newly formed wind slabs are the wild card today. Wind speeds have increased this morning and forecast models suggest windier conditions today than we have seen in recent days. If speeds are lower than expected, then wind slabs won’t be much of a concern today. Watch for blowing snow and shallow new slab development in exposed upper elevation terrain.

If out recreating in the Salts or Wyoming Range today, please consider posting an observation here to help the community make informed and safe decisions in the backcountry. Thank you!

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