Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Out of date — this forecast expired 3 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Human triggered avalanches remain possible today. Warming temperatures could also make avalanches  easier to trigger this afternoon with temperatures potentially climbing into the low 30's in the mountains. Weak snow around a crust buried by the latest storm has the potential to produce an avalanche capable of burying a person. Evaluate the snow for signs of wind effect along ridges and dig to look for the crust/facet layer before committing to steep slopes, especially ones that may contain a thinner snowpack.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Winds have shifted around the compass with the passage of the parade of shortwaves through the Tetons. Cornices have calved off and grown again and one wind slab avalanche occurred as temps warmed  yesterday on a butte at the entrance to the Elk Refuge. Look for signs of wind effect like drifts, large cornices or firmer surfaces. This avalanche problem should be easy enough to see and avoid but remember that wind loaded areas may also be stressing a weak layer of facets buried Feb 18.  Cornices have grown in recent weeks and may weaken as temperatures warm so keep an eye on this hazard. 

    (3/1/2023) Recent large wind slab likely failing on buried Feb 18 layer. Simialr avalanches in the area failed due to cornice fall.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    The Greys zone illustrates a wide range of conditions between the Northern and Southern portions of the zone.  A layer of facets, buried on Feb. 18th, remains particularly suspect, as incremental loading continues to occur throughout this week and into the next. Numerous soft and hard slab avalanches have been triggered recently on this weak layer, now buried 2-3 feet (and counting) across all elevations and most aspects. Luckily, it's still fairly high enough in the snowpack that one can assess its presence by digging a pit, and is a crust+facet sandwich found on the southern half of the compass across most elevations, E-S-W. This zone is large and snowfall rates for the recent period of snowfall have varied greatly.

    Recent avalanche activity, including the unfortunate fatality in Poker Creek, is a reminder to carefully assess the terrain as you ride.

     

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