Persistent Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Likely
- Größe
- 1.5–2.5
Triggering a soft or hard slab avalanche up to 3 feet deep is possible on buried weak layers of facets and surface hoar, and more likely on northerly aspects. The highest concentration of avalanche activity over the last week was from 8,000’-9,500’ on sheltered N-NE aspects. Other aspects cannot be ruled out given the spotty distribution of these weak layers. For this reason, some slopes may appear stable while others are not. Knowing which slopes contain weak faceted snow or surface hoar is difficult without thorough snowpack assessment. Buried surface hoar is notorious for propagating far cross-slope and being remotely triggered.
Slopes that are wind loaded and harbor buried weak layers will be most dangerous today.
Remotely triggered avalanche from the adjacent ridgeline that failed 5 days ago on buried surface hoar.
Photo: Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center