Bulletin d’avalanche

Togwotee Pass

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Danger d’avalanche

Fri
Alpin
2 · Modéré
Limite forestière
2 · Modéré
Sous la limite
Sans niveau
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Périmé — ce bulletin a expiré 3 years ago. Vous consultez des conditions passées, pas le bulletin en cours.

Points saillants

A steady stream of new and windblown snow throughout today will create sensitive wind drifts and load buried weak layers. Triggering an avalanche is possible, especially on steep slopes where new snowfall will fall on crusts, or in areas with shallower snowpacks. You can dramatically reduce your risk of getting caught in an avalanche by sticking to wind-sheltered, mid-elevation terrain.  Make your terrain selection accordingly and be alert to the consequences of being caught in a slide where you are traveling. 

Problèmes avalancheux

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1.5–2.5

    The weak snow buried near the base of this snowpack continues to be the primary avalanche concern in this zone. While encountering a wind slab (described below in Problem #2) is more likely, any wind slab you trigger has a chance of "stepping-down" to the weak snow near the ground.

    The best way to assess this weak layer is to dig down, identify the layer, and perform stability tests before riding consequential terrain. It is worth carefully reading any recent observations over the past week in areas you frequent and grasp any trend with activity. You are most likely to encounter this problem on terrain that has the following characteristics:

    • Located on the southern half of the compass at upper elevations (E-S-W): These areas remain shallower and weaker as any new slab builds.
    • Wind-affected: Terrain where the wind has formed firm, cohesive slabs of snow. 
    • Steep: Terrain over 35 degrees in steepness.

    Recent avalanche activity has occurred on this layer in areas with a thin, shallow snowpack such as the Wyoming Range, which bears similarities to Togwotee. (Dry Creek Lake, Hoback Peak).  

    (3/7/2023)

    This avalanche occurred due to afternoon solar input at low elevations yesterday. Weak snowpacks remain widespread at Togwotee Pass, surrounding the town of Jackson, and low-elevation portions of the Greys. Any significant solar input or rain moving into the spring will likely cause an avalanche cycle in these areas. 

    Photo: Antonioli

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpin
    • Limite forestière
    • Sous la limite forestière
    Probabilité
    Possible
    Taille
    1–2

    The lower-density nature of new snowfall throughout today will be easily transported by even light breezes.  Wind slabs may be found near ridgelines or mid-slope in exposed terrain, particularly late in the day and into tomorrow morning. Wind loading can be more subtle—assume that all open or sparsely treed, upper-elevation slopes have experienced at least some amount of wind loading over the past week. The lower elevations will see a reprieve from any sunshine today (and instabilities as such), and lower snowfall amounts are not expected to turn the tables in these weaker spots. 

    ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION:A number of weak layers—both prominent and subtle—exist near the top 2 feet as well as near the bottom portion of the snowpack on shallow slopes. None of these seem particularly reactive but have still produced a few small to medium-sized avalanches in the past week. Nearly constant loading from light snowfall and wind are not giving these weak layers any relief, and time will tell how these layers react to even greater incoming water amounts. 

     

     

Avalanche Discussion

A conversation last evening brought up the concept of entering the backcountry as a practice of good habits and reassessment; of setting your own margins, and not just adopting someone else's. As we move forward into spring, practice those good habits, and build your personal backcountry practice. After all, it's not just skiing or riding--it is negotiating with a mountain.

Success does not mean expertise in the avalanche game, which is an easy thing to forget with the high visibility that social media or riding in more popularized zones allows us. Success (i.e. riding the line, getting to the top of the mountain) without context, feedback, and a process is nothing but a high-five into the wind. It leaves you no better off at the top of your next line. So when a skin track cuts mid-slope because that's where a summer trail goes, practice your good habits and judgment, and set your own. The more we build good habits and practice good judgment, the wider the margin will be when it matters, and the more experience we craft into expertise. Keep it tight my friends, enjoy some fresh snow today, and wish someone you know a Happy International Women's Day. 

Régions couvertes