Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in the backcountry. Wind slabs, formed by recent heavy snowfall and strong winds exist at all elevations. These slabs remain very sensitive to backcountry riders and skiers. The chance also continues to trigger larger and deeper hard slabs in high northerly terrain. Yesterday, a skier was caught, carried and injured after triggering a slide that carried him through trees in steep terrain. The slide occurred in No Name Canyon to the south of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Teton County Search and Rescue rescued the skier using short haul techniques. Similar events could occur today. Do not allow sunny skies to affect behavior. Conservative decision making is essential today.
The chance continues for backcountry travelers to initiate very large and destructive deep slab avalanches that could involve the full depth of the snowpack. The weak snow associated with this problem exists on northwest through northeast aspects above 9000 feet.
Recent heavy snowfall that was accompanied by strong southwest to west winds have formed dense surface slabs in steep avalanche terrain at all elevations. These slabs lie upon widespread faceted snow formed during last weeks cold period and remain very sensitive in many areas. These slabs could have depths to three feet at higher elevations, and eighteen inches at lower elevations.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )High pressure will dominate on Friday. Below zero temperatures are expected in the morning with slight inversion conditions. Highs are to be in the teens. Winds will be light. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable. The possibility for humans to easily trigger soft to hard surface slabs will continue. These slabs could have depths ranging from six inches to several feet and could occur at all elevations and most aspects. Although less likely, deep slab avalanches could also be triggered in high terrain on northerly aspects by larger loads such as snow machines or by the initiation of a surface slab.
