WILSON, Wyo. — Warmer weather is driving many people outdoors, but it’s creating some risks for backcountry users.
The Teton Backcountry Alliance (TBCA) followed up on an observation shared on Bridger Teton Avalanche Center regarding an avalanche sighted by a member of the public in Glory Bowl on Monday, April 1, around 7:30 a.m. TBCA stated on Facebook that the observation of the slide in Glory Bowl was likely triggered by “a skier who kicked off a cornice to, apparently, test slope stability. We are fortunate the slide did not run to the highway and injure a skier or commuter below.”
Sunshine and warming temperatures are creating a recipe for “considerable” avi danger above 9,000 feet in the Tetons and moderate danger above 6,000 feet, according to the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center (BTAC). The center’s observation website notes a number of slides in the area over the past few days.
BTAC explained the precarity of spring conditions in a social media post on March 30.
“The snowpack is transitioning from a dry to wet snowpack, a complex process that ebbs and flows through warm sunny days and cold spring storms,” BTAC’s post said. “A variety of crusts and weak interfaces are now present in the top three feet of the snowpack across every zone…Solar influence can rapidly cause wet, loose avalanches on southerly aspects, while on a northerly aspects, it can influence drier snow problems, like wind slabs, and make them more prone to triggering all at the same time!”
BTAC’s forecast for Wednesday, April 3, encouraged backcountry skiers to watch for signs of unstable snow.
“You’re most likely to trigger an avalanche on steep, upper-elevation slopes where wind has affected recent snow,” BTAC’s forecast said. “If you find stiff drifts or shooting cracks, move to more sheltered slopes. If you see signs of changing conditions, such as rollerballs or slushy snow, move to colder aspects and watch out for steep sunny slopes above you that might be warming faster than you expect.”
As the struggle toward spring weather continues, more temperature fluctuations might further complicate snowpack stability. When heading into the backcountry, consider both personal safety and the safety of others.
“This incident highlights an important safety point that we have heard many times before: Your actions in the backcountry can have dire consequences for those below,” TBCA posted. “And a slide on Glory that affects the road can limit all skiers’ future access to this treasured area. Our enjoyment of Teton Pass depends on your responsible use.”
