Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1–2
What and where is it: Up to 6 inches of new snowfall combined with high, shifting winds could form sensitive wind slabs on top of a slick, icy snowpack buried below. The most likely place to find new wind slabs is on steep snow slopes that face north and east.
How can you recognize it: Look for smooth, rounded drifts deeper than your boot top that could be poorly bonded to the icy snowpack underneath. Thicker slabs may produce shooting cracks, which is an obvious sign of instability. Look out for plumes of blowing snow and rapid filling-in of boot tracks and ski tracks.How can you manage it: Look for new snow being blown by the wind and recently formed wind drifts that will be smooth. Dig down and investigate how well the new snow is sticking to the hard snow below before traveling across steep slopes. Check this interface often with hand shears, and factor in the consequences of even a small slide in steep, icy terrain.