Persistent Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 3
Complex and variable are the words to key in on.
In my tenure, this winter's snowpack structure is one of the most complex and variable I can remember. We have various persistent weak layers within the snowpack that are becoming dormant (the most recent reported avalanche was on the 24th), but they're not there yet. There was a skier caught and carried over my Mill Canyon Peak on Sunday with a very close call with two snowmobilers getting avalanched near the Ant Knolls on Saturday. Aspects most prone to avalanching include west to north to southeast facing aspects of all elevations but generally the mid and upper elevations. Rapid warmth may lead to natural cornice failure which in turn may trigger a larger slab avalanche failing in more deeply buried persistent weak layers.
More thoughts under Additional Information below -