Glide Cracks
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Likely
- Größe
- 1.5–2.5
Rain picks up Christmas night through Monday, and wet snow avalanche problems are still a concern. Expect water to have percolated even further into the snowpack, if not the entire depth in areas where the snowpack is thinner in below treeline and possibly near treeline elevations. As water further saturates the snowpack more slab avalanches could release, deeper into the snowpack than before. In areas where water has reached the ground, if there is a smooth surface of rock or low shrubs, these are the circumstances when glide avalanches can happen.
We don’t know exactly where we are in this cycle of activity. This is the third day of above-freezing temperatures and rain, with another stronger period of rain coming through during the day Monday. Large natural avalanches could release at all elevations, and they could be as deep as the entire snowpack. The size of avalanches is expected to be larger at higher elevations, where the snow is deeper. Any gullies at lower elevations that connect to avalanche paths at higher elevations could be suspect for a large avalanche running down from far above you, even if there isn’t much snow at the lower elevation.
Stay off slopes steeper than 35 degrees. Consider giving a wide berth to areas beneath steep slopes, or at least travel through them very quickly, as the nature of these avalanches releasing is very unpredictable. Stay away from locations beneath glide cracks and large cornices. These aren’t the type of avalanches you can avoid triggering by sneaking around them. You are either in the way or not.
A glide crack is a strong indicator that the snow below it could avalanche at any moment, especially as warm temperatures and rain continue. Avoid traveling anywhere beneath this glide crack.
Photo: Will Govus