Togwotee Pass

Recent storms have created slabs on steep, lee slopes at upper elevations. Backcountry users have the potential to trigger avalanches to 30 inches in depth. Some potential exists for these slabs to step down and involve the entire snowpack in areas with a persistent weak layer of faceted snow at the base of the snowpack. Avalanches are unlikely below an elevation of 8,500 feet.

( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )The avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate Wednesday. Soft slabs from storms Monday and Saturday exist in steep, lee, avalanche-prone terrain. Saturday's snow was driven by southwesterly winds and Monday's storm came from the northwest. Backcountry users have the potential to release slabs to two feet in depth that involve the snow from one or both storms. Areas to avoid are very steep terrain, areas near cliff-bands, steep chutes and sides of ravines.In the Tetons a hard crust from October at the base of the snow pack exists at upper elevations with northerly aspects. Triggering dangerous avalanches on this layer would likely require rapid snow loading events, large triggers and/or a quickly warming snowpack. The snowpack at lower elevations is thin and avalanches there are unlikely.