Photo by Aaron Diamond.
This fall, the Foundation partnered with the park and Bridger Teton Avalanche Center (BTAC) to purchase and install winter weather stations in the park. Two instruments—wind and snow—were placed in the Surprise Lake/Disappointment Peak region in late September.
“Since the park is a significant portion of the forecast area, we wanted to collaborate with BTAC for the benefit and safety of park visitors,” Jenny Lake District Climbing Ranger Scott Guenther said. “With the help of Grand Teton National Park Foundation, we are able to partner with the avalanche center to provide much-needed remote weather stations located within popular skiing terrain in the park.”
Data from these sensors are helping inform the daily Teton avalanche forecast and is currently available on BTAC’s website—raw data from Surprise Pinnacle (wind station) and Surprise Meadow (snow station) can be seen on BTAC’s Big Sheet.
In addition to offering more data, the Foundation is supporting a meteorological technician who will make snowpack assessments and observations throughout Grand Teton National Park. The technician will also collaborate with BTAC.
“These new resources will jump-start our effort to improve the daily avalanche hazard forecast for terrain located in Grand Teton National Park,” BTAC Director Bob Comey said. “It will allow the avalanche center to better inform the public, thus enabling park users to make smarter decisions regarding travel in avalanche terrain.”
Thanks to our generous community of backcountry skiers and riders who made this effort possible—let it snow!