Teton Pass, Wyoming – At approximately 4:52 PM on Thursday, December 15, 2016 an avalanche was triggered in Twin Slides path just east of the main bootpack up Teton Pass. The snow “buried both lanes of Highway 22 under about 20 feet of snow” (JHNewsandGuide.com). WYDOT will close Teton Pass overnight in order to clear the road and to mitigate any additional avalanche hazard.
At this point no injuries have been reported. The authorities believe that the avalanche was “skier triggered.” WYDOT called in Teton County Search and Rescue to probe the snow in case any skiers were caught and buried in this avalanche.
The Bridger Teton Avalanche Center issued an avalanche warning from 6pm on Thursday until 6pm on Friday. WyoRoad.info notes that the road is closed due to weather emergency and should reopen between 10am and 12pm on December 16, 2016.
See a photo of Twin Slides pass on JacksonHoleSkiAtlas.com.
Update 12/16: Teton Pass reopened at 10am (LocalNews8.com).
Update 12/20: The investigation into this incident has concluded. Teton County “do not have enough evidence to determine if the massive avalanche that closed Teton Pass Thursday was skier triggered” (PlanetJH.com)
