Avalanche forecast

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Thu
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired last year. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You'll find generally stable conditions in most of the terrain in this zone today. The exceptions are steep (over 35 degrees), wind affected areas where weak layers of snow and wind slabs may be triggered.  Watch out for signs of wind-stripped and wind-loaded slopes and know that triggering an avalanche is most likely to occur in these areas.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Unlikely
    Size
    1.5–2.5

    Weak layers of snow are most likely to be triggering where they are buried 2-3 feet deep in the Salt and Wyoming Range. Triggering a large hard slab avalanche at these depths is very unlikely except in these shallower areas affected by wind action, generally above 8,500'. Instability is most likely found in very steep terrain where the snowpack is thin. Weak spots (trigger points) include wind-scoured areas, hanging snowfields above cliffs, and rocky terrain.  The most recently reported activity on this layer occurred last Sunday (9 days ago) on NE and SE facing slopes near Smith Fork. Both were large enough to easily bury a person. Wind slabs near ridgetops may remain sensitive today and will be found in the some area as this deeper problem type. Direct sun today may make wind slabs easier to trigger and may produce some minor wet snow activity on the surface.

    (2/25/2025)

    Large, natural persistent slab avalanche that failed on a very steep, rocky and unsupported slope near Smoot. 

Avalanche Discussion

The potential size of the persistent slab problem was reduced from D3 to D2.5. Field work and observed activity supports this move due to the fact that the layer is capped by very strong layers of snow 3-4 feet thick except in wind stripped areas which would reduce the potential size of an avalanche there. Even still, D2.5 is a conservative estimate of the likely potential size of one of these avalanches. The last two avalanches reported on this layer occurred during a period of heavy snow mixed with rain which further leads us to beleive that this layer is close to dormancy. You can see more about this problem type in this video.

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