Avalanche forecast

Snake River Range

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 2 years ago.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

Highlights

Lingering wind slabs from high winds on Monday remain a concern. A chance of triggering large slabs deeper in the snowpack also persists. Watch for signs of wind loading, particularly around ridges, cliff bands and couloirs. Follow safe travel practices, never put more than one person on or below a slope, and evaluate the snowpack to determine areas where weak snow may lurk beneath the surface. 

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Weak layers of snow that are buried 2-4 feet below the surface exist primarily on the north half of the compass. Although triggering an avalanche involving these layers has become less likely, it can still occur, especially above 8000 feet in terrain that is connected to very steep (greater than 35 degrees) slopes and have varying snow depths.  If triggered, these slabs are likely to release as large, dangerous, hard slab avalanches. Snowpack evaluation and safe travel practices remain the best methods to avoid triggering an avalanche involving the old snow layers. 

     

    Large persistent slab avalanche that occurred just over a week ago  in the Snake River Range. The trigger in unknown but was likely a falling cornice. Thanks to High Mountain HEli for the photo and critical observation.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Wind gusts on Baird Mountain were from the west and reached over 40mph day before yesterday.  There may be some stubborn wind slabs lingering in upper elevation terrain. These slabs could be soft or hard and have depths to eighteen inches. Remember that even small wind slabs can have dire consequences in unforgiving terrain around cliff bands and in couloirs. 

    Charts shwoing wind speed and direction for the new Baird wind station.

Avalanche Discussion

The weak layers buried in mid and late December are well preserved in the snowpack. Although the triggering of an avalanche involving this snow is becoming less likely, areas still exist where a person or a group of people could cause a slope to fail.  This could happen while on a previously tracked slope or even when adjacent to steep terrain. Be wary of terrain that is so steep that snow could now be enticing but you suspect it could be covering a shear rock face or small cliff band that was exposed just a month ago. Looking at the snow layering in a drainage is the best way to understand the extent of this weakness and do not trust that such an evaluation will be the same in relatively close areas as the magnitude of this problem can vary greatly from one drainage to the next. 

Regions covered