In what may be an unprecedented first, officials at Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) have requested that Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY immediately close backcountry gates exiting the resort into GTNP.

NOAA has issued an Avalanche Warning for the Jackson Hole area.

* AVALANCHE DANGER...STRONG WINDS, HEAVY SNOWFALL AND WARMING TEMPERATURES HAVE 
CREATED VERY DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS AND INCREASED THE GENERAL AVALANCHE 
HAZARD TO HIGH. 

* REASON/IMPACTS...LARGE TO VERY LARGE AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY TO RELEASE 
NATURALLY ON A VARIETY OF ASPECTS. WIDESPREAD NATURAL AVALANCHE ACTIVITY 
IS POSSIBLE.
- NOAA, today

Citing staff being deployed elsewhere, high avalanche danger, the potential risk to rescuers, and the upcoming forecast, the Superintendent of GTNP has taken the step to protect the safety of all involved.

The gates that leave Jackson Hole and enter GTNP access a zone called Granite Canyon that is big, steep, full of terrain traps, and is no place to go when avalanche danger is high.

• Related: FebuBURIED! Jackson Hole, WY is Having Deepest February EVER

Due to park staff involvement in current road closure and winter storm-related incidents within the park, elevated avalanche danger, potential risk to rescuers, and forecasted weather, the superintendent of Grand Teton National Park has requested an emergency closure of the gates that access Grand Teton National Park from the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort until further notice. Thanks to the Resort for their cooperation and to backcountry recreationists for respecting the closure. Please stay safe!

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has received a huge 434″ of snow already this season, resulting in their deepest February ever.  Over this weekend alone, almost 3-feet fell on the area, culminating in this rare request to close the gates.

Please heed this request, and warning, and play safe out there.

Avalanche Warning for Jackson Hole

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK-ABSAROKA MOUNTAINS-
TETON AND GROS VENTRE MOUNTAINS-JACKSON HOLE-
SALT RIVER AND WYOMING RANGES-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
AVALANCHE WARNING
BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST AVALANCHE CENTER
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RIVERTON WY
554 AM MST TUE FEB 26 2019

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE
BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST AVALANCHE CENTER.

THE BRIDGER TETON AVALANCHE CENTER IN JACKSON HAS ISSUED A
BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS: TETON AND
GROS VENTRE RANGES, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, THE ABSAROKA RANGE,
JACKSON HOLE, AND THE SALT RIVER AND WYOMING RANGES.

* TIMING...IN EFFECT FROM 600 AM MST TODAY UNTIL 600 AM MST
  WEDNESDAY.

* AFFECTED AREA...THE TETON AND GROS VENTRE RANGES, YELLOWSTONE
  NATIONAL PARK, TOGWOTEE PASS AREA, SALT RIVER RANGE, WYOMING
  RANGE, SNAKE RIVER RANGE, AND JACKSON HOLE.

* AVALANCHE DANGER...STRONG WINDS, HEAVY SNOWFALL AND WARMING
  TEMPERATURES HAVE CREATED VERY DANGEROUS AVALANCHE CONDITIONS
  AND INCREASED THE GENERAL AVALANCHE HAZARD TO HIGH.

* REASON/IMPACTS...LARGE TO VERY LARGE AVALANCHES ARE LIKELY TO
  RELEASE NATURALLY ON A VARIETY OF ASPECTS. WIDESPREAD NATURAL
  AVALANCHE ACTIVITY IS POSSIBLE.

* PRECAUTIONARY / PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...TRAVEL IN AVALANCHE
  TERRAIN IS NOT RECOMMENDED. AVALANCHES MAY RUN LONG DISTANCES
  AND COULD RUN INTO MATURE FOREST, VALLEY FLOORS AND FLAT
  TERRAIN. ROADWAYS MAY BE IMPACTED ON TETON PASS, AND IN THE
  SNAKE RIVER, AND HOBACK RIVER CANYONS.

  CONSULT HTTP://JHAVALANCHE.ORG/ OR WWW.AVALANCHE.ORG FOR MORE
  DETAILED INFORMATION. SIMILAR AVALANCHE DANGER MAY EXIST AT
  LOCATIONS OUTSIDE THE COVERAGE AREA OF THIS OR ANY AVALANCHE
  CENTER.