General Avalanche Advisory

The general avalanche hazard remains Considerable above an elevation of 7,500 feet and is Moderate below that elevation. In steep avalanche prone terrain humans could trigger recently formed surface slabs and dangerous persistent slabs. Wind slabs formed during the most recent storm cycle are a hazard on steep wind-loaded avalanche terrain. Large to very large persistent slabs are most likely to be triggered on steep slopes that had a shallow snowpack with poor snow structure at the end of January. Areas with persistent slab avalanche hazard are prevalent in the Togwotee Pass area, especially east of the Continental Divide. The consequences of triggering a large destructive avalanche are likely to be severe. Conservative terrain choices, watching for areas of wind loading and evaluating the snowpack to understand the persistent weak problem are essential for snowmobilers and skiers who recreate in avalanche terrain.