Lawinenlagebericht

Northwest Mountains

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

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

Kernpunkte

Triggering a slab avalanche remains a concern on the north half of the compass. Most lingering instabilities in sheltered terrain are relatively small (about a foot thick) and confined to the steepest rollovers. Larger or thicker slabs are possible on wind-loaded slopes.  Choose smaller, less consequential terrain and avoid heavily drifted slopes to reduce your risk. Southerly aspects offer safer but crustier travel.  

An Avalanche Watch is in effect: A potent winter storm will significantly increase the danger starting on Tuesday.  A large natural cycle is expected to begin on Tuesday and intensify through Wednesday.  Plan to avoid avalanche terrain accordingly.  

Lawinenprobleme

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2.5

    Soft slabs about a foot thick can be sensitive to human triggers on steep terrain where they formed over weak facets on the north half of the compass.  Slabs will be thicker and can be remotely triggered at higher elevations on windloaded slopes. Shooting cracks or collapses are clear warning signs of unstable snow. There is more isolated potential to trigger a thicker, harder slab that fails on weak layers buried deeper in the snowpack - a problem that is more difficult to assess. Carefully consider both avalanche size and terrain consequences before riding on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees.   Southerly aspects have a more reliable, springlike snowpack structure.   

    (2/13/2026) 

    A remotely-triggered slab avalanche on northerly-facing terrain in the Anthracite Range.

    Photo: Crested Butte Avalanche Center

Avalanche Discussion

On most slopes, the threat of triggering an avalanche has been gradually declining since the bulk of the snowfall on Thursday formed slabs about a foot thick over our February 11th faceted interface.  Alpine winds increased to moderate speeds out of the southwest yesterday, and our forecast teams out on the Gothic Mountain Tour yesterday noted a few slopes that saw continued windloading.  Freshly loaded features are likely to remain the most sensitive to human triggers.  In sheltered terrain, stay alert for the steepest rollovers and unsupported terrain features, where relatively small slabs have been most sensitive during the last few days.  

Conditions dramatically change on Tuesday and Wednesday as the Fat Tuesday Firehose gets pointed at the Elk Mountains.  Our forecast team has fairly high confidence that we will see a large, widespread natural cycle by the time the storm ends.  We have greater uncertainty about when avalanche activity reaches the destructive size and distribution criteria for moving to High Danger (Level 4).  The first slug of snowfall and strong to extreme southwest winds are ideal for loading our most problematic aspects, and natural activity will be underway tomorrow, with favored parts of the forecast area potentially rising to High danger before sundown.  Both of our forecast zones should be squarely in High Danger by Wednesday if the storm performs as expected.    

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