Lawinenlagebericht

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Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Fri
Hochgebirge
1 · Gering
Waldgrenze
1 · Gering
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Veraltet — dieser Lagebericht ist 5 years ago abgelaufen. Du siehst vergangene Verhältnisse, nicht den aktuellen Bericht.

Kernpunkte

Generally stable avalanche conditions exist, and large avalanches are unlikely. Be on the lookout for wind drifts at upper elevations. You may be able to trigger these slabs where they rest on layers of weak, sugary snow.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

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

    Your odds of triggering a wind slab avalanche are low. Despite that fact, they are the most likely avalanche problem you'll encounter. Wind slabs may still be sensitive to your weight where they rest on weak layers of facets, facets + crusts, or surface hoar. 

    Look for this problem in wind affected terrain at upper elevation. Wind slabs often form downwind of ridgelines and in cross-loaded gullies. These avalanches probably won't bury you but they could easily take you for a ride, pile you into trees, or wash you into a terrain trap. The possibility of slabs breaking above you or wider than expected makes them more difficult to manage.

    Thankfully, this problem is relatively easy to identify and avoid. Look for ripples or dunes on the snow surface. If you feel the snow stiffening, alter your course to somewhere with softer snow at the surface. You'll find better skiing and riding and safer conditions, a real win-win.

    (1/22/2022) North winds following Thursday's 8-10" of new snow created sensitive wind slabs. These are failing on weak snow surfaces that formed during the ongoing dry spell. This natural wind slab avalanche released Friday or Saturday near Copper Mountain.

Avalanche Discussion

By looking for and avoiding obvious small wind slabs (Problem 1 above), you can nearly eliminate your chance of triggering an avalanche. There are no other well-defined avalanche problems in this zone. This picture is unlikely to change until snow returns to the forecast. In the meantime, there is one potential hazard to look for and avoid:

  • Cornices:  December's nearly continuous snow and wind built some truly impressive cornices. These beasts are perched along most ridgelines in this area. It can be very difficult to tell where a ridgeline stops and where the cornice starts. Cornices are unpredictable and potentially unstable. Give these huge chunks of snow a wide berth. 

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