Lawinenlagebericht

Selkirk Mountains

Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Sat
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 6 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Merry Christmas!  We have a very tricky snowpack right now.  There are numerous weak layers in the pack that vary with elevation, aspect, wind-effect and seemingly, just a wink of his nose.  Newer weak layers are not as deeply buried and less likely to propagate but the deeper weak layers like the facet layer are still there and reactive.  And if that is not enough, it is almost certain that a new layer of surface hoar will be buried by the storm that is rolling in tonight.  Be careful out there!

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    First of all, the faceted layer that we have been watching is still reacting to stress tests and it is now more deeply buried.   This weak layer will be most problematic on steep slopes that are unsupported at the bottom and smooth or planar in shape.  If you're looking at a slope like this you're pulling up your gloves and britches and imagining glory.  Back off for now, it's still early season.  This layer will go away but it will take some time and more snow to press it out.

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1

    Wind slabs will be touchy since we have had light snow at the surface for transport and wind from multiple directions.  Wind slabs exist on multiple aspects and have formed from different processes.  Some slabs are from the hardening of the surface snow.  Some slabs are from redistributed snow that gets packed in and hardened.  Cornices are another formation that you want to be careful around.  Remember you can cut cornices so that they fall and test the slopes below.  Use a long cord to cut them but stay well back from the edge of course.

  • Storm Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    The weather forecast is calling for a good dose of snow tonight, Saturday, and Saturday night.  The good thing is the temperature will keep this snow lower density.  The bad thing is there will be some SW winds that gain strength Saturday and start to harden the new snow into a slab.  A weak slab could form entirely in the new snow or it could incorporate the new snow and more of the existing snow and trigger on a deeper weak layer.  

Avalanche Discussion

Eric Morgan was off the backside of Schweitzer yesterday and created a great video that explains the very complex snowpack we have right now.  The new sow will be great since we need it but it really complicates the situation further.  It also adds a very, very important factor.  Powder.  Powder is a heavy influence and we all know it.  Don't let it get the best of you.  Make good decisions out there.  Even though the hazard is Moderate you can still trigger an avalanche.  It's till early season.  While the pack is tricky, choose more conservative lines and work on your technique.  Get solid in your performance so that when the really big stuff happens next month, you'll be ready.

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