Tetons

Dangerous unstable slabs exist on a variety of aspects. Yesterday afternoon two backcountry skiers triggered a slab avalanche while ascending a southwest-facing slope on Cache Peak at an estimated elevation of 9,000 feet. One skier was carried through trees and injured. In Cottonwood Creek drainage southeast of Afton three snowmobilers were deeply buried by a large avalanche and died. At the mid and upper elevations soft slabs one to four feet in depth are likely to be easily triggered on steep wind loaded slopes. Deeper hard slabs could also be triggered. At the lower elevations hard and soft slabs up to three feet in depth could be human triggered in the starting zones of steep active avalanche paths. The potential to trigger these slabs will likely increase as the day progresses and temperatures warm. Good terrain evaluation, route finding skills and excellent decision making skills are essential for safe travel in avalanche terrain today.