Avalanche forecast

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Fri
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
2 · Moderate
Below
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Highlights

Human-triggered avalanches are possible today in steep, rocky, wind-affected terrain. Avalanches could involve deeper weak layers buried 2-4 feet deep even in sheltered, steep terrain.  Be mindful of slope angles and avoid riding on suspect slopes over terrain traps where avalanche debris can pile up deeply.

Avalanche problems

  • Persistent Slabs

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

    Recent new snow loading and wind have added strain to an already weak snowpack. The persistent slab problem exists on all aspects at upper elevations and west through north through east aspects at middle elevations. You'll see lots of tracks on steep slopes in Togwotee, but don't think that means the slope is stable. Weak snow buried 2 to 4 feet could be impacted by the weight of one rider or the third or fourth rider on a slope.  You are most likely to trigger an avalanche on steep, rocky, wind-affected terrain, where the snowpack is thin and weak snow is closer to the surface. Choose lower-angle slopes to ride and watch out for terrain traps where even small avalanches will have high consequences.

    Cornices conitinue to grow. Minimize time spent on slopes with cornices looming overhead. Cornices can break unexpectedly, especially in warming temperatures, and can crack further back than you expect along ridgelines. A large cornice falling into a persistent slab problem will act as a large trigger and possibly trigger a large avalanche. Give cornices a wide berth.

    (2/27/2024)

    Cornices are large in the Togwotee Pass areas. Warming temperatures such as we have today tend to make these break off more easily.

    Photo: Travis Baldwin

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Gusty winds have built soft wind slabs at upper elevations and may continue to build them today as wind increases. These slabs could be up to 2 feet thick and are located along ridgelines, beneath rocky outcrops, and on crossroads terrain features like gullies. Watch for pillows, drifts, and denser snow along with drifting snow in the air and plumes at the ridgetops.  Cracking and collapsing are sure signs of this problem. Seek out sheltered terrain where there is less wind-affected snow.

    (2/27/2024)

    Small (D.5), soft wind slab easily releasing on lee side of the ridge at 10,000 feet.

    Photo: Travis Baldwin

Avalanche Discussion

The structure of the snowpack remains poor with widespread weak layers lurking on many aspects and elevations.Two days ago, Travis toured aroudn Angle Mountain and found small, soft wind slabs that were easy to release.  Monitor the wind speeds yesterday carefully as signs of rifting snow are a red flag for potentially unstable wind slabs.

East of the Divide the snowpack is quite thin making weak layers are more easily impacted by the weight of a single rider. 

Please continue to send in your observations, even if it is just an avalanche you see from the road. These observations are extremely helpful in anticipating the avalanche hazard, especially on Togwotee where there is uncertainty stemming from snowpack variability and a lack of observations. Thanks in advance! 

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