TETON VILLAGE, Wyo. — The Tetons received a fresh coating of snow over the past 24 hours, bringing eager recreationists to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR) Friday morning to ski the new pow.
Buckrail photographer Nick Sulzer was at Teton Village Friday morning, waiting with other skiers and riders to get after it. Avalanche mitigation measures kept all ski lifts closed until about 9:45 a.m. Most of the lifts were scheduled to open at 9 a.m.
According to Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center, avalanche danger above 7,500 feet is considered “moderate” today, and it’s “considerable” over 9,000 feet.
“Over a foot of new snow overnight combined with increasing wind speeds this morning has elevated the avalanche hazard,” the Friday morning forecast reads. “Triggering an avalanche is likely on very steep and wind-loaded slopes at the upper elevations today. Avalanches could be large enough to bury a human in big terrain. Give steep, wind-loaded slopes a wide margin today.”
Sulzer noted that the line for the Bridger Gondola stretched almost to the Eagle’s Rest quad chairlift just before 9:45 a.m.
Be careful out there, folks! JHMR closed its backcountry gates yesterday for the remainder of the season, advising that mountain users exercise caution as new snow can conceal hazards.
