Tetons

At mid and high elevations a storm dropping several feet of new snow ended Sunday. Soft and hard slabs to five feet or more in depth are likely to be triggered today by backcountry travelers on steep avalanche terrain. Several large slides were triggered Sunday and more snow has kept the snowpack unstable. At low elevations pockets of soft slabs to three feet in depth and sloughs could rapidly build to dangerous depths in steep areas like road cuts and ravines. Sunday a large, soft slab was released on lower Titmouse Ridge south of Teton Pass at 7,500 feet. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision making are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain today.

The general avalanche hazard in the Tetons and Greys River areas is expected to be CONSIDERABLE Monday. Soft slabs to four feet deep from the newer snow and deeper, hard slabs could be triggered by backcountry travelers in steep areas. Most recent activity has had some common elements: Very steep slopes, good build-up of snow from ridge-crest winds or cliffs above and underlying faceted snow. As the snowpack settles slides may release with the first person on a slope or after a few people have passed. The presence of several people in avalanche terrain is not an indication of stability. In the Togwotee Pass area where less snow has fallen the hazard is expected to remain MODERATE where a chance of triggering hard slabs to three feet in depth is becoming more unpredictable.