Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

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Out of date — this forecast expired 6 months ago.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

Highlights

Triggering an avalanche up to a foot deep is possible in steep terrain above 8,000’ today. Recent avalanches, shooting cracks, and collapses in the snowpack are obvious signs of instability. However, these signs may not be present before triggering. Giving steep and consequential terrain a wide margin is the best way to avoid avalanche involvement today.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Weak layers of snow including surface hoar and facets that formed during a month-long dry period in January were recently buried by about a foot of snow. Multiple soft slab avalanches involving these layers were triggered by riders 48 hours ago. Although these avalanches are on the smaller side, they are still large enough to knock riders off their feet or bury someone in a terrain trap. While the likelihood of triggering is slowly decreasing, riders still have the potential to trigger avalanches in very steep terrain greater than about 35°. Signs of instability may or may not be present before triggering. Sheltered north facing slopes are where this problem is most likely to be found, but other aspects cannot be ruled out given the spotty distribution of weak snow.

    Click here to see recent avalanche activity around Togwotee.

    (2/12/2026)

    These slabs were triggered by snowmobilers near Grouse Mountain two days ago and are good examples of the type of avalanches that you may encounter.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–1.5

    Winds have been relatively light over the past several days leaving loose snow on the surface in most upper elevation terrain. Wind speeds have increased out of the SW this morning and are forecasted to stay elevated today as a storm system passes to the north. Be on the lookout for soft slab formation in wind loaded terrain above 10,000’. These slabs will likely be on the smaller side with depths up to a foot, but could be sensitive to the weight of a rider in very steep terrain. Blowing snow and shooting cracks in the snow surface are signs of wind slab development.

Avalanche Discussion

A month-long dry period ended early this week as welcomed storms brought about a foot of new snow with little wind to the Togwotee region. This snow has settled and formed soft slabs that are sitting on a variety of surfaces that formed in January. Prior to this week’s snowfall, hard crusts existed on south facing slopes, wind hardened surfaces were present in exposed terrain above 10,000’, and faceted snow with patches of surface hoar could be found in shady sheltered terrain above 8,000’. The latter of those surfaces is most concerning now that it is buried. Given the wide variability in drought surfaces, we are left with an avalanche problem that is spotty and somewhat difficult to predict. That said, recent human triggered avalanches indicate that this problem is most sensitive in very steep, north facing terrain from 8,000’-9,500’. This is the terrain where triggering an avalanche is most likely and where careful evaluation of the snowpack and terrain is most important for the time being.

Newly formed wind slabs are the wild card today. Wind speeds have increased this morning and forecast models suggest windier conditions today than we have seen in recent days. If speeds are lower than expected, then wind slabs won’t be much of a concern today. Watch for blowing snow and shallow new slab development in exposed upper elevation terrain.

If out recreating in the Togwotee forecast area today, please consider posting an observation here to help the community make informed and safe decisions in the backcountry. Thank you!

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