Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
No rating
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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

Since early yesterday morning, there has been 4 to 8 inches of new snow accompanied by moderate winds. These conditions have created the potential for human-triggered avalanches above 7,500 feet. The new snow has formed new wind slabs and added weight to buried persistent weak layers, causing the PWLs to be more easily triggered. It will be possible for riders and skiers to trigger newly formed wind slabs and as well as larger slides on older buried weak layers. Those venturing into the mountains should use careful snowpack assessment and good terrain choices to avoid encountering avalanches.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1

    Yesterday into today, moderate southwesterly to northwesterly winds have formed dense wind slabs up to a foot in depth on leeward slopes. Strong winds today could increase the size of these slabs. Due to the recent formation of these slabs, they could be easily triggered by riders and skiers. It is warranted to avoid wind affected slopes, especially where cornices are found as this is a sure sign of wind-loading.

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Poor snowpack structure is widespread on Togwotee Pass. Basal facets, near-surface facets, surface hoar, and crusts all persist in the snowpack. On a variety of aspects above 7,500 feet, skiers and riders still have the potential to trigger persistent slab avalanches with depths between 1 and 3 feet. Large triggers, such as snowmobiles, are more likely to initiate one of these slabs. Be mindful of the surrounding terrain and the location of other backcountry travelers to avoid dangerous accidents involving large avalanches.

Avalanche Discussion

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )After the brief lull in the weather this evening, cloud cover is expected to increase overnight. Skies will be partly cloudy in the morning and then overcast by the late afternoon. Periods of light snowfall are expected over the forecast area with an accumulation of an inch or less and steady snowfall is expected to develop tomorrow night. Winds will be westerly to northwesterly at fifteen to thirty miles per hour. Temperatures will drop into the single digits and then tomorrow warm into the teens in the mountains and twenties in the valleys. Today's storm has formed wind slabs above 8,500 feet and also added weight to persistent weak layers at all elevations. These weak layers are buried one to four feet within the snowpack. Careful snowpack assessment and terrain selection are essential for skiers and riders to avoid triggering an avalanche. In the Tetons, the avalanche hazard is expected to remain Considerable at the upper elevations. This week there have been many human-triggered slides, and just a few days ago, snowmobilers remotely triggered a large avalanche. Keep in mind the potential weak structure that may be found on some slopes. In the Togwotee Pass and Grey’s River forecast areas, the avalanche hazard is expected to remain Moderate. Backcountry travelers could trigger large avalanches one to four feet in depth. Yesterday, a skier remotely triggered a large avalanche near Palisade Lake, and today, snowmobilers triggered multiple large avalanches 2 feet in depth with wide crowns by Sheep Creek Pass in the Snake River Range. This is a reminder of the poor structure that exists in the forecast area.

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