The chance for human triggered avalanches continues today. Watch for areas of stiffer snow as the underlying snowpack is weak and faceted. Cracking within wind drifted snow and audible collapsing of the snowpack are signs of instability. Carefully assess the snowpack before entering steep, rocky terrain with thin coverage.
Slabs can be triggered in very steep terrain features, particularly where wind loading has occurred during the last week. These slabs could be soft or hard with depths up to 3 feet at the higher elevations. Continue to exercise safe travel techniques and look for this problematic layer, especially in steep and exposed terrain.
The Togwotee area has a shallow snowpack that is underlain by weak faceted snow. Riders are reporting feeling the snowpack collapse which indicates the presence of this weak snow and is a sign of instability. Any steep slope with denser snow overlying this weak layer should be avoided.
A skier was dug out by his partner and then rescued by Teton County Search and Rescue on Friday when he triggered a large wind formed slab near a ridge crest that formed over a weak layer.
