Banner Summit
Lawinengefahr
Kernpunkte
Avalanche conditions are generally stable here and large avalanches are unlikely. Wind slabs will be small, but could be reactive to your weight. Loose snow running on slick surfaces will be easy to trigger on steep slopes. Triggering a sizeable slide is unlikely but not impossible, and other mountain hazards exist other than avalanches. Continue to practice safe travel techniques, and evaluate the snow and terrain you are moving through.
Avalanche Discussion
The danger dropped to LOW here for the first time this season yesterday. The issues in the snowpack you'll be moving through broadly fall into two categories:
NEW SNOW: Saturday's storm brought 3-5 inches of new snow accompanied by light to moderate wind that shifted from the SE-S-SW to the NW. This combination built a round of small slabs that may be sensitive to your weight today. Look for them near terrain features that slow the wind down and force it to drop the snow it is transporting. Typical locations are along ridgelines and the sides of mid-slope gullies. Slabs will be at their largest, most reactive, and most dangerous in upper elevation terrain. If the snow you are moving through quickly becomes deeper, stiffer, and more dense, you have found a wind slab. Cracks shooting out from your skis or machine are a clear sign that the slab you found is not well bonded.
Loose snow avalanches involving the recent snow will be small but easy to trigger on steep slopes. These will run quickly downslope on the stiff surfaces underneath. As periods of bright spring sunshine melt the new snow, these loose snow slides will take on a moist/wet character. Even small slides can knock you off your feet and send you for a nasty ride if you encounter them in ugly terrain. Consider the consequences of an unplanned, high-speed trip down the slope you are playing on.
OLD SNOW: Weak layers buried under thick, dense slabs in the upper few feet of the snowpack have had some time to rest and triggering a slide involving them is unlikely. Unlikely, but not impossible. Your first sign of instability involving these weak layers would be the large avalanche you trigger. These slides may break well above you on the slope and fail widely. You can dramatically reduce your risk of encountering a slide like this by steering clear of very steep, rocky, heavily wind-affected terrain.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: When the danger drops to LOW, many of us find ourselves drawn towards the steep terrain we've been dreaming about all winter. When we head into this terrain, we are entering a dangerous environment, even when the avalanche conditions are generally safe. Here, catching an edge, crossing your ski tips, or losing control of your machine on a steep, firm slope can all have severe consequences. This is also the type of terrain where you are most likely to trigger a slide involving either the new or old snow. If you're headed for this type of terrain, keep things tight. Travel one at a time, keep your eyes on your partners, and make a plan for how to move safely through the terrain. Respect the environment you are traveling through and remember that avalanches are only one of the hazards posed by the mountains. Spring time brings hazards like rock fall and firm surfaces to the forefront of our minds as the mountains warm up, but also expect creeks to start opening up and posing a hazard as well.