Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1.5–2.5
Mt. Hood Meadows Pro patrol reported numerous exlosive-triggered wind slabs on N-E slopes between 6000-7000 ft on Wednesday. Some of these were large or even very large. While your odds of triggering an avalanche may be decreasing, the consequences remain high warranting cautious decision-making. You might expect around 2 ft of snow on average above the 3/12 crust at 6500-7000 ft. and 3-4" of snow above the 3/15 crust below around 6000 ft formed by a warm-up Monday night. A layer of colder, lower density snow sits above the 3/12 crust and should continue to be the culprit the largest avalanches triggered at upper elevations until it has time to settle. If you find these layers buried deeper, you're on a wind loaded slope. Continue to steer around wind-loaded start zones steeper than 35 degrees and rollovers well down below ridgelines. Evaluate the potential of the slab to fail on or above the uppermost crust before engaging with larger terrain features.
(3/16/2022)
Wind Slab on NE aspect above treeline at Mt. Hood Meadows. Crown was 5 ft (skier for scale) with failure on a density change just above the 3/12 crust. Estimated D2.5.
Photo: MHM Pro Patrol