Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 8 months ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

New snow and wind have created dangerous avalanche conditions at upper elevations. Triggering an avalanche on steep wind loaded slopes is likely. Triggering a large avalanche is possible on steep slopes where weak layers are buried up to 4 feet deep and where signs of instability might not be present. Smaller avalanches could step down into deeper weak layers causing large avalanches. Look for shooting cracks and drifting in new snow to identify unstable conditions.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Likely
    Size
    1–2

    Up to 10 inches of snow in 48 hours and increasing westerly winds have formed soft slabs up to 1-2 feet deep on exposed slopes above 9,500 feet.  Slabs will continue to build on multiple aspects today with additional snow and wind. These slabs will be sensitive to the weight of a rider and could easily knock you off your feet or snowmobile, especially above consequential terrain. Steep slopes below ridges, around cliffs, and cross-loaded gullies are typical areas of wind loading. 

    Watch for shooting cracks as a clear sign of unstable, wind drifted snow. 

     

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Weak layers are buried 2-4 feet deep. Snow and wind are adding stress to these layers and increasing the possibility of triggering a very large avalanche. This problem exists on multiple aspects, but is most dangerous on north through east aspects above 9,000 feet. You are most likely to impact these weak layers on steep slopes where the snowpack is thin. Convex rollovers, steep rocky terrain, and on the margins of wind loaded slopes are all places where the overlying slab is generally thinner. An avalanche triggered on weak snow near the ground will be large enough to injure or bury you. Smaller avalanches in recent storm snow could impact these deep layers and cause a large avalanche.

     

    A rider had a very close call December 31, 2025. This avalanche illustrates the difficulty in pinpointing where you can trigger deeper weak layers. Note that this seems to be a shallow area, making it easier to trigger a weak layer.

Avalanche Discussion

Increasing wind and snow will continue to build wind slabs. Pay attention to storm snow total and where snow is getting loaded. Consider choosing more conservative terrain in anticipation of increased avalanche danger. Persistent slabs are by definition unpredictable. We don’t know how much additional snow load is required to tip the scales and impact buried weak layers. Keep this in mind if snow totals really start stacking up or in areas with heavy wind loading. Small wind slab avalanches have the potential to impact deeper layers and trigger a larger avalanche.

There are lots of terrain traps on Togwotee (steep, narrow creek drainages) that are easy to get sucked into on a snowmobile. It does not take a large avalanche to get buried in a terrain trap. Identify these features before riding into or underneath them.

Here is a link from a crown profile where a rider was almost buried in a terrain trap.

If you get out today, please send us some pictures or submit an observation. Thanks.

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