Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
3 · Considerable
Treeline
3 · Considerable
Below
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Highlights

Recent snowfall and wind have built wind slabs and added stress to weak snow deeper in the snowpack. Avalanches are most likely on wind-loaded slopes, but triggering  a slide  2-3 feet thick on steep, sheltered slopes is likely.  Stack the odds in your favor by riding slopes under 30 degrees in steepness and by steering clear of wind-loaded slopes.

 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Over a foot of new snow has fallen in this zone over the past 48 hours. Wind speeds have been right for transporting the new snow and building reactive slabs. Be mindful that the new snow and wind slabs remain triggerable and assess slopes for cracking and know that slopes that have not seen alot of traffic will be most susceptible to triggering. Avalanches could range from a foot thick to over three feet thick.

     

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Weak snow that formed during a dry period in the second half of January has been buried 2-4 feet deep. These slabs sit on a variety of interfaces, including crusts on solar aspects and facets on shaded aspects. The likelihood of triggering slabs at this interface has decreased over time. However, triggering a slab on this layer may still be possible in very steep, rocky, and wind affected terrain. Large triggers such as a surface avalanche, cornice fall, or multiple riders on a slope increase the odds of impacting these weak layers. While the chances of triggering are low,  stack the odds in your favor by following safe travel protocols. Travel one at a time across steep terrain, use islands of safety, and keep track of your partners.

    (2/11/2025) An avalanche failing on weak snow formed during the dry period at the end of January.

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

  • Deep Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    2–3

    Weak snow exists near the ground above 9,000’. This snow is buried 5 feet deep on average. Although triggering an avalanche at this depth is very unlikely, it's not impossible. On February 10th, a rider stepped off their sled and triggered a very large avalanche that failed near the ground on Lava Mountain. This avalanche was triggered where the overlying slab was thin making it possible for the rider to impact the underlying weak layer. Thin spots exist in rocky and wind-affected terrain. Manage this problem the same way you would manage weak layers in the middle of the snowpack (problem #2) by avoiding very steep, rocky, and heavily wind-affected terrain.

    (2/11/2025)

    The crown of the recent unintentionally-triggered avalanche on the E face of Lava ~10,400'.

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

Observations have been limited during this storm cycle which creates more than the usual uncertainty in the typically weak and continental snowpack in Togwotee. Assume that there are reactive layers both in the new snow and, less so, but also, in the older snow. The terrain traps that pepper the terrain in Togwottee are the stuff of nightmares, don't take unnecessary risks on slopes above one of them.

 Please consider submitting an observation HERE. Observations allow everyone to gain a better and more complete understanding of conditions. Thanks!

 

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