Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1
A few inches of snow and wind have built a new generation of slabs to manage in wind-exposed terrain. Most of these slabs will remain small, but they could trigger easily in areas where they form over recent slick crust.
Pay attention to blowing snow and rippled, textured surfaces as clues of recent loading. You’ll typically find these slabs on the leeside of ridges, below cornices, or on the beak-over of steep slopes. You can use small test slopes or hand pits to gauge how reactive these slabs are. Cracks shooting out from under your feet or machine are obvious signs that you may have found an unstable wind slab.
(2/23/2024)
An example of a shallow wind slab in the Stuart Range from last season.
Photo: Matt Primomo