Togwotee Pass/Squaw Basin Avalanche December 27, 2005 Two snowmobilers were caught in an avalanche in the Togwotee Pass area of Wyoming, approximately 21 miles east of Moran, Wyoming. The avalanche buried and killed one. Neither snowmobiler had avalanche gear or transceivers. The second snowmobiler climbed out of the drainage on foot to establish cell phone contact. He was approximately 6 miles south of Highway 26-287. The Teton County, Wyoming SAR helicopter picked up the snowmobiler. The reporting snowmobiler helped SAR personnel locate the slide from the helicopter. It was too late in the day to initiate a search. The buried snowmobiler was found on the second full day of searching. Poor weather conditions hampered search efforts. Link to Bridger Teton National Forest Avalanche Website accident report: http://www.avalanche.org/av-reports
	First Day of Search. A full search was begun the next day. SAR personnel from Teton and Fremont County, Wyoming, Togwotee Mountain Lodge Snowmobile Guides and Search Dogs from Wyoming K9 and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort participated. Photo: Steve Marsteller, TC Wyoming SAR.
	Controlling Safety of Search Scene. Approximately 12”-18” of snow fell each day during the search. Hand explosives were used to bring down the new snow. Photo: Ray Shriver, TC Wyoming SAR and Wyoming K9.
	Ski-Checking Slope. Searcher ski-checks slope to evaluate slope stability. Photo: Ray Shriver, TC Wyoming SAR and Wyoming K9.
	Terrain Trap. Snowmobile of buried snowmobiler at bottom of gully. The snowmobile was completely buried. A search dog located it on the first day of searching. Photo Steve Marsteller, TC Wyoming SAR
	Search Dogs Working Scene. Snowmobile of buried snowmobiler in background behind middle searcher. Photo by Steve Marsteller, TC Wyoming SAR.
	Probe Pole Lines. Photo Ray Shriver, TC Wyoming SAR and Wyoming K9.
	Searchers Reach the Buried Snowmobiler. Searchers reach the buried snowmobiler on the second day of searching. Note the upper platform where searchers are standing. The upper platform is approximately 3 feet below the snow surface. A search dog alerted at the location. Other search dogs had showed interest in the same general location the day before. A searcher probed from the upper platform and found the buried snowmobiler. Photo: Steve Marsteller, TC Wyoming SAR
	Depth of Burial. A searcher shows the depth of burial. Probe poles were too short to reach the buried snowmobiler from the surface of the snow. Depth of burial was estimated as 12 feet. Photo: Steve Marsteller, TC Wyoming SAR