Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1.5–2.5
You can trigger a large slab avalanche on steep, high-elevation slopes or wind-drifted slopes down low. You can easily trigger smaller loose avalanches on very steep, shady slopes. The most dangerous areas, where you can trigger a slab avalanche large enough to bury you, are slopes facing west through north to southeast near and above treeline or on wind-drifted slopes below treeline. On sustained, steep slopes, generally steeper than about 40 degrees, some loose avalanches might grow large enough to bury you. The simplest way to find safer travel options is by sticking to slopes less than about 35 degrees steep if you are traveling on slopes facing the north half of the compass or above treeline on the south half of the compass.