A skier on Teton Pass was caught and carried but not injured yesterday. On Tuesday a 47 year old snowmobiler was buried by an avalanche in the Sheep Creek drainage east of Palisades Reservoir and did not survive. Similar events are possible today above an elevation of 7,500 feet in all of our forecast areas. Weak layers of faceted snow that formed in December and January are still producing dangerous slab avalanches. This type of hazard is best managed by making conservative terrain choices. Avalanches are unlikely at the lower elevations.
Large to very large deep slab avalanches could be triggered by skiers and riders with depths to five feet on deeply buried persistent weak layers. The consequences of triggering one of these slabs are likely to be severe.
Pockets of wind slab formed by west to southwest winds could be triggered by skiers and riders who venture into steep avalanche starting zones and cliff areas. These slabs could be up to two feet in depth. Even a small slab can be a hazard if it is triggered above a cliff, a terrain trap or on a very steep slope.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )Skies will continue to be partly to mostly cloudy with some areas of very light snowfall. Temperatures will be in the single digits above and below zero. Winds will be from the south to southwest at 5 to 15 miles per hour.Weak layers of faceted snow that formed in December and January are still a concern in steep avalanche prone terrain above an elevation of 7,500 feet. Dangerous hard slab avalanches with depths to five feet can be triggered by snowmobilers or skiers on these persistent weak layers. This type of hazard is best managed by conservative terrain choices. The general avalanche hazard is forecast to be MODERATE above an elevation of 7,500 feet and LOW below that elevation.
