Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Wed
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
2 · Moderate
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Highlights

Triggering an avalanche in wind-drifted snow 1-3 feet deep is possible today. Watch for obvious signs including pillows and drifts around exposed terrain. Steep, rocky and wind-affected slopes should be evaluated carefully where it remains possible to trigger a large and destructive avalanche on deeper weak layers. The avalanche hazard will rise this afternoon with incoming snow and increased wind.

A winter weather advisory is in place until 11am Wednesday.

 

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Moderate to strong W/SW winds over the weekend redistributed recent new snow and built slabs 1-2 feet thick at middle and upper elevations. These slabs could be sitting on older slabs and other deeper weak layers. This problem exists on many aspects due to changing winds and the effects of terrain. Watch for stiff pillows and drifts around exposed ridglines, below cliffs and around crossloaded terrain features like gullies. As snow and wind start to increase this afternoon, watch for further snow transport and increasing avalanche hazard. Small wind slab avalanches can easily knock you off your feet in consequential terrain or step down to deeper weak layers triggering larger avalanches. Shooting cracks are a great indicator that you should look for more sheltered terrain to ride. 

    This avalanche was observed yesterday on a loaded slope in the Togwotee area. Similar avalanches are expected today in the Grey's River area. 

    Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Weak layers are buried up to 5 feet below the surface at all elevations. This problem is most prevalent on west through north through east aspects. You are most likely to trigger a large avalanche in steep, rocky, wind-affected terrain or any other area where the snowpack is thin and weak layers are more easily impacted. Dig, probe or trench your sled to asses the weak layers buried beneath you. Mitigating the persistent slab hazard requires riding lower-angle slopes and not traveling beneath avalanche terrain or around terrain traps. The next 24 hours will bring more snow and wind, increasing the hazard and requiring more time for the snowpack to adjust.

    This picture from the Tetons shows a persistent slab avalanche that failed during a February storm cycle. Similar avalanches are possible on buried weak layers that are stressed by recent loading.

Avalanche Discussion

The Greys River avalanche forecast zone is huge. Snowpack depths and avalanche problem distributions vary dramatically depending on where you are and how much snow there is. The biggest takeaway from this variability is that shallow snowpacks are generally more dangerous because we can impact the buried weak layers and trigger avalanches more easily with the weight of our snowmachine or a single skier. The Salt and Snake river ranges have more snow than the Wyoming range. This is a huge generalization but holds in most cases. The persistent slab problem exists in all these locations but is closer to the surface in thinner snowpacks. When in doubt, or whenever trying to manage uncertainty, remember that conservative decisions and safer terrain (lower-angle) will always reduce your exposure to whatever hazard is lurking under the snow.

Regions covered