Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Sat
Alpine
1 · Low
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 9 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Triggering a small avalanche is possible today on steep wind-loaded slopes above 9000 feet.  Watch for drifting snow and shooting cracks in new snow. Rocks and logs buried just below the surface pose a significant threat. Thin, early-season conditions exist in most areas.

 

 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    4 to 6 inches of snow overnight, along with moderate westerly winds, have built shallow wind slabs on top of a shallow, weak snowpack. Several more inches of snow today will add stress to these shallow slabs but it will not increase the hazard significantly.  The danger is greatest on upper elevation slopes above 9000 feet that face the north half of the compass. This is where November snow created a combination of weak, faceted snow, crusts, and surface hoar.  Buried weak layers could exist on upper-elevation southeast and southwest slopes where colder Togwotee temperatures kept weak November snow lingering longer than the Tetons. There is some uncertainty here until we get more observations. 

    (11/30/2025)

    Watch for shooting cracks or stiffened snow surfaces as obvious signs of wind loaded terrain. 

    Photo: BTAC

Avalanche Discussion

Prior to this new snow, there was 1.5 to 3 feet of snow on shady, sheltered areas above 9500 feet on Togwotee.  Snow depths decrease as you travel to southerly or lower elevation slopes. Many lower elevation, sunny slopes were bare ground until very recently.   Within the leftover November snow, there are several weak layers, including facets, crusts, and a very notable surface hoar layer that was found around Two Ocean Mountain on multiple aspects. The distribution of these weak layers gives us an idea of where to expect the avalanche danger to increase as the weak November snow gets loaded with this storm. Avalanches can happen in steep terrain where there is a continuous bed surface of November snow. Determining where the old snow exists is critical. As you travel today, dig down and find out how deep the snowpack is and if there are weak layers beneath you. With 4-6 inches overnight and moderate west winds that gusted in the 30s mph at upper elevations, small wind slabs will exist on exposed, lee slopes above 9000 feet. They could catch you off guard, knock you off your feet, and drag you over rocks and logs that are just getting covered. Look for drifting, stiff snow surfaces and shooting cracks along ridgelines, wind-exposed areas, and near rocky outcrops.

The first significant storm of the season is upon us. This is exciting, but remember that this snow is falling on a very shallow snowpack. As you ride today, consider dialing that throttle back just a little to avoid broken a-arms, or worse, as rocks and logs get buried a little deeper.

Please submit any observations to the website, even if it's just a picture or quick description of where you went and what you saw. These early-season observations are incredibly helpful and paint a much more accurate picture of the avalanche danger and snowpack conditions.

 

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