Deep Persistent Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 2–3.5
Continued NW winds at upper elevations will be transporting snow onto areas with buried weak layers, making triggering a large avalanche more likely today. There are a vareity of buried weak layers in the Summit Lake snowpack that could cause larger avalnches. We reccomend a cautious approach to terrain that is being actively wind loaded. You can always stick to lower angle terrain or lower elevation slopes to avoid this problem.
The deep persistent slab problem may not give any feedback, but a whumpf or collapse is a clear sign that a slope could avalanche. If you are venturing onto steep slopes choose safe, low angle, up routes, and travel one at a time in terrain greater than 30 degrees.
Cornices along ridgelines and dry loose avalanches on steep slopes are additional hazards to look out for. As the surface snow turns to facets in the cold temperatures dry loose avalanches can start to gain more volume and run faster.
Glide avalanches also continue to be a concern. We have observed several glide cracks continueing to open up since the last major storm and reccomend trying to avoid travelling underneath glide cracks whenever possible.
