Bollettino valanghe

Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Tue
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
1 · Debole
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 3 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

You are most likely to trigger an avalanche on upper-elevation slopes where new snowfall is starting to form drifts. Cracking and collapsing are indicators that you have found an unstable slope. Smaller avalanches are possible on steep slopes, even those that are relatively sheltered from the wind. Loose snow avalanches are likely in steep terrain as skies clear today. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–1.5

    Areas of the northern portion of the zone have received over 12 inches of snowfall, with most areas averaging 6-8 inches of light snowfall. This snowfall sits on weak, faceted snow formed during a 2+ week dry spell in December. As more time passes, this snow will start behaving cohesively as a slab. Though winds have remained light, expect to find isolated wind slabs in exposed terrain features, with these slabs growing in size and distribution as winds increase today and tomorrow. Skiing and riding conditions are vastly improving right now, but don't lose sight of what is above you. Given the nature of our current snowpack, remotely triggering an avalanche from below, above, and to the sides of steeper slopes is possible. Be aware of the terrain you are in and the terrain you are exposed to from above. 

     

    (1/8/2024)

    This natural avalanche was observed between Prater and Poudre in the Salts on a NW aspect around 8,859 feet.

    Photo: Bill Wainwright

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Unlikely
    Dimensione
    1–1.5

    Weak snow formed in November sits 1-3 feet below the surface and has proven to be mainly dormant for now. The exception was an avalanche near Gunsight Pass in the Wyoming range on Dec 30 (8 days ago). This avalanche serves as a reminder to continue to use safe travel practices. This layer will remain on the radar as new snow accumulates on the surface in the coming week.

Avalanche Discussion

Slopes where you could trigger a slide aren't widespread, and if you did trigger an avalanche, it would likely be on the smaller side—but that is about to change with changing weather. Triggering ANY size avalanche is potentially dangerous, and as we begin to load not only a recently buried (on Jan 4) nasty weak layer but an additional one that is untested and is buried 1-3 feet deep already, now is the time to be more careful instead of less. The nearly month-long dry spell that ended December left us with a faceted snow surface that is about as weak as it can get. Folks who regularly read the avalanche forecast or have put in the effort to deal with the challenges of lack of snowfall at lower elevations have seen how loose and sugary the surface became. Yesterday on Windy Peak in the Palisade, I found widespread surface hoar on northerly aspects buried around 6" deep with recent light snowfall. Where the rubber hits the road is watching how layers like this one will respond to additional loading and time. 

Danger will increase as time passes over the coming days. You can decrease the chance of triggering a slide by using extra caution in these areas:

  • Upper elevation terrain where even light wind-drifting has created a thicker slab atop the weak layer.
  • Steep slopes and convexities approaching 40 degrees, even in wind-sheltered terrain.

 

Regioni coperte