Persistent Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Likely
- Größe
- 1.5–3
You are most likely to trigger an avalanche in areas of wind loaded snow. Existing wind slabs will start the day small and isolated to upper elevation lee terrain. By mid-afternoon, almost a half inch of forecasted SWE and increasing west winds could very quickly build larger touchy slabs in lee and cross loaded terrain at mid and upper elevations. While the wind slab could be the thing that knocks you off your feet, the bigger problem remains the drought layer underneath that could be rapidly stressed throughout the day by the increased wind loading. Wind slabs could easily step down to this weak layer. The December drought left a variety of very weak layers that are now buried 1 to 4 feet deep by January snow. This problem exists on all aspects and elevations except low elevation southerly slopes. Recent winds in the last several days increased loading on the snowpack and we continued to see large natural avalanches through Monday.
Travel Advice: Be very cautious and conservative near any terrain over 30 degrees. Rapidly changing conditions warrant a large safety margin. Avoid terrain with steep slopes above you. Remote triggers are likely so keep your head on a swivel and remember that large avalanches can be triggered from above, below or adjacent to the terrain you are on. Red flags could be abundant so pay attention to the location of recent avalanches, rapid loading (lots of snow and wind), dense drifts and pillows, collapsing and shooting cracks. Today is a good day to ski low angle sheltered powder.
(1/15/2024)
Recent avalanche on E Face of Taylor. Occurred sometime between Jan 14 and 15. There are two crowns, and it is hard to distinguish if they are the same, separate, or sympathetic events. The Laurel Dana slide on the left side of the photo was reported on Jan 14.
Photo: John Fitzgerald
