Togwotee Pass

The general avalanche hazard is MODERATE. The snowpack is underlain by a persistent layer of weak faceted snow and depth hoar. The chance continues for backcountry travelers to trigger hard slab avalanches involving this layer to depths of three feet in steep avalanche terrain. Failure may be caused by larger loads such as snowmobiles and may occur when a weak spot on the slope is hit, even after a slope has been crossed several times.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Light snow is expected tonight and Saturday. Temperatures are to rise to the mid to upper twenties in the mountains. Winds are to be from the southwest with 15-20 mile per hour averages.The avalanche hazard is to be Moderate in the Teton and Togwotee Pass areas and Considerable in the Greys River area where the snowpack remains the most sensitive. Backcountry riders and skiers have the potential to trigger hard slab avalanches to the base of the snowpack in steep avalanche terrain. These slabs may fail when a weak spot or trigger point is hit even after a slope has been crossed several times. Larger loads such as snowmobiles or groups of skiers have a greater potential to trigger these weaknesses. The potential to trigger loose snow sluffs and pockets of soft slabs to a foot in depth near ridge crests also exists in steep terrain.