Daily avalanche hazard reports available
Great resource for backcountry recreationists
February 21, 2005
The online Bridger-Teton National Forest Backcountry Avalanche Hazard and Weather Forecast is updated daily with avalanche condition information for backcountry users. It is a great tool for those planning snowmobiling, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing trips into the backcountry during the winter. The website can be found at www.jhavalanche.org.
According to the report for Monday, February 21, a skier was caught, buried and injured yesterday in a road cut on Teton Pass. Also, on Saturday February 19th, a skier was caught and partially buried in a small avalanche on a Northeast aspect of Maverick in Grand Teton National Park at 7800'.
As of Monday, February 21, the general avalanche hazard forecast for the Grey’s River/Southwest Trails area was CONSIDERABLE. This means continued snowfall and current strong ridgetop winds have developed soft slabs to eighteen inches in depth in the backcountry. These slabs could be easily triggered today by backcountry riders on steep leeward slopes and may pull out deeper slabs to three feet in depth that lie upon slick hard crusts.
The general avalanche hazard forecast for the Continental Divide/Togwotee Pass area was LOW as of Monday. Generally, mostly stable snow exists, however new snow and wind have formed isolated pockets of shallow soft slabs that could be triggered by backcountry enthusiasts on steep leeward slopes and may carry consequences in terrain traps or in exposed areas.
The general avalanche hazard for the Teton area ranged from MODERATE to CONSIDERABLE as of Monday. Current strong winds are moving new snow and building easily released slabs to eighteen inches in depth at the upper elevations. Once triggered these slides could pull out deeper slabs from earlier February snows that lie upon hard slick crusts. At the middle and upper range of low elevations, pockets of new slab to a foot in depth could be triggered in leeward zones and in cliff areas.
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