Togwotee Pass

A shallow and mostly stable snowpack exists in the Togwotee Pass area.   Low hazard does not mean no hazard exists and small  slabs can be found in isolated, wind loaded areas.  These slabs will have formed since Friday morning lie in only in very steep terrain above 9000 feet. These slabs formed upon a shallow snowpack topped with surface hoar and faceted snow on most aspects. Although relatively small in size, these could be triggeed by skiers, riders, or hunter/hikers. If triggered they could knock someone off of there feet and carry them through hazardous terrain features such as rocks and cliffs. Dont let early season enthusiasm affect good judgement and avoid steep, rocky areas in effort to enjoy the long season ahead. Avalanches are unlikely in the shallow, heavy snow at mid elevations and low elevations lack sufficient coverage for avalanche activity. 

The storm that started Friday morning brought nearly an inch of moisture and six to ten inches of snow to the Togwotee Pass area.  The precipitation occurred with increasing temperatures and winds. Yesterday morning the warm and windy conditions caused riming to occur on wind instruments. Averages on high peaks are estimated to have been near forty miles per hour with gusts in the upper sixties.  Generally this laid down a heavy layer of snow that is beneficial during the early season as it covers ground hazards quickly and forms a stable base layer.  Although this heavy snow fell on a shallow and settled snowpack, that snowpack was topped with faceted snow including surface hoar at high elavatioins on most aspects.   Wind formed shallow slabs that could fail on this interface in very steep, high elevation terrain. The layer buried on November 4th will require respect and monitoring as additional snowfall occurs although the lack of a hard bedsurface near this layer may keep it from being a persistent problem.