JACKSON, Wyo. — The Bridger Teton Avalanche Center (BTAC) saw multiple reports of human-triggered avalanches yesterday and in the last week.
Consistent snowfall has made for great riding, however, each clearing, change in temperature and/or wind flow has made for different snow slabs to think about. Brief periods of sun and high-pressure systems have also allowed for skiers and riders to get into the high alpine and trigger avalanches on slopes that may have been skied less frequently. According to BTAC yesterday’s human-triggered avalanches were mostly due to failure within the newest snowfall and were in upper-elevations, leeward terrain and will likely one to two feet in depth.
The featured image shows an avalanche triggered by skiers on a west aspect off of Albright Peak around 10,000 feet. BTAC reminds the public that with new snowfall stacking up, the looming persistent slab is back on the backcountry menu.
We are grateful as a community that all parties escaped relatively unscathed from human-triggered events yesterday.
BTAC
The recent snowfall of over a foot during the last week and the light to moderate winds have loaded some exposed slopes like the one pictured above. According to BTAC slopes with stiffer snow near the surface—whether from wind-loading or “spin drifting” below large cliff faces—are more likely to produce big avalanches than areas where the surface is loose powder.
