Persistent Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 4
Chances for triggering an avalanche that breaks into old weak sugary faceted snow near the ground continues to decrease. It seems to be getting to the point where it is unlikely that a person will trigger a large avalanche. However, my experience has taught me that you don't mess with a buried persistent weak layer of sugary faceted snow. It will bite you long after you think it won't. It's the classic low probability, high consequence scenario. Ask yourself if it's worth it to get onto a steep north facing slope right now. I'm in for the long run and don't mind waiting a bit longer. We're going in a good direction, I'm just not sure we are at green light conditions yet.
Persistent Weak Layer Summary, 2021-2022:
There was a foot or more of snow that fell in October.
This snow melted away on many slopes but it stayed on northwest, north and northeast facing slopes above about 8500'.
The snow that stayed turned into a weak sugary layer during dry weather in November.
We saw a large amount of snow in December which landed on top of the weak snow from October.
The weak layer of sugary faceted snow collapsed and produced avalanches under the stress of the large storms.
The weak layer is still present. We are monitoring it and are hopeful it will become more stable with time.