East Slopes North

Lawinenprobleme

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1–2

  There are two main concerns around wind drifted snow:

  1) Large cornice falls triggered by warming temperatures and sun on leeward sides of ridges. Falling cornices could easily injure you if you're on or under them. They could also trigger avalanches. Stay out from under and well away from cornices. If you're traveling on a ridge, clues like exposed rocks and vegetation can tell you where you can stand without being on an overhung cornice.

  2) Small slabs may have formed at the highest elevations with west and southwest wind since Monday. While they'll be small, you could trigger these wind slabs on steep, leeward slopes. This adds to existing older wind slabs which are now difficult to trigger. Use small, inconsequential test slopes to check how easily wind-drifted snow cracks or slides. Steer around pockets of recently drifted snow. 

  

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Hochgebirge
  • Waldgrenze
  • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze

  Wahrscheinlichkeit

  Possible

  Größe

  1

  Another day of warm temperatures and sun could be enough to see wet avalanches on slopes that have yet to slide in the past couple of days. If slopes are getting soft and wet, move to lower-angle and more shaded terrain. These avalanches are generally easy to avoid and manage. Use caution in steep terrain or near terrain traps like cliffs and gullies where wet avalanches could be dangerous.