“Pretend you are in Colorado right now. This is not a typical Teton/Salt Range snowpack!” –Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center Foundation
The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center Foundation wants people to pretend like they are in Colorado when accessing the current avalanche as it is “not a typical Teton/Salt Range snowpack!”
Just yesterday a skier triggered an avalanche at Jackson Hole Ski Resort after ducking a rope and entering a closed area (something you should never do especially when avy danger is high). JHMR ski patrol conducted a search to make sure no one was buried and confirmed there wasn’t.
Just to reiterate, do not duck ropes and poach closed areas of ski resorts in general but its extremely bad form when avalanche danger is present. This not only puts yourself other guests at risk but also puts ski patrol in bad position as they have to confirm no one was buried. Be respectful and be safe:
1-20-2024: The avalanche pictured was triggered yesterday by a skier ducking a rope at JHMR. This occurred around 7,500′ in an area that had only a foot of snow, rotten snow, on the ground two weeks ago. The slide was large enough to bury a person, though the triggering party fortunately escaped without injury. Also, fortunately, no one else was below. A full response from JHMR Ski Patrol, including a dog search, was launched.
More avalanches like this, and much larger, can easily be triggered this weekend. Don’t mistake a drop in danger ratings as a green light to hop into steep terrain, or any avalanche terrain. Large and deadly avalanches are occurring on slopes near 30 degrees and are being triggered remotely. Avalanche danger is Considerable at ALL elevations!
Pretend you are in Colorado right now. This is not a typical Teton/Salt Range snowpack!