JACKSON, Wyo. — Snow King is stepping up its safety measures around avalanche control work with the addition of work lights that signal when mitigation is occurring on the mountain and uphill travel is not permitted.
During avalanche mitigation work, a flashing strobe light will be turned on at both base areas (Gondola Operator Shack and Rafferty adjacent to the Cowboy Coaster Bridge).
According to Snow King Mountain, when this light is flashing, uphill travel is prohibited during the morning and not recommended at night. If the light is flashing the night prior, uphill users should avoid skiing up to the summit ridge in the dark. As soon as mitigation work is complete the light will be turned off and uphill travel is permitted. If patrol is confident that control work will occur on the rolling day, the light will be turned on the night prior to alert people that uphill access is closed the following morning.
“The mountain operations team will do their best to notify the public the night prior to any avalanche control via Facebook and the Snow King App,” said Snow King.
Avalanche mitigation is likely after a fresh snowfall of four inches or more, or during a period of high winds. Control work, such as bombing, has been underway this morning and is likely to continue through the current storm cycle.
“Please do not proceed up the mountain when the light is flashing,” said Snow King Mountain.
