Persistent Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Likely
- Größe
- 2–3
Recent Avalanches: We have not heard of recent avalanches BUT Seward and Lost Lake have a very similar scary snowpack to Turnagain Pass. Turnagain Pass had three recent avalanches with at least two of them being human triggered. The third was a large avalanche (around 1 to 2’ deep) that propagated around 1,000 wide on the Seattle Headwall. Just because we have not heard of avalanches does not mean people have not triggered them.
The incoming storm will make it easier to trigger a large avalanche on a layer of surface hoar buried 1 to 3’ deep. 4 to 8” of snow is expected accompanied with strong southeast winds gusting to 50 mph in the afternoon. This will increase the chance of triggering a large avalanche on a layer of buried surface hoar above 1,500’ on all aspects.
Today is not the day to get on or under steep slopes. The simple reason is that people are still triggering large avalanches. Many of these avalanches have been remotely triggered meaning that people have triggered avalanches above or adjacent to them from low angle slopes. Snow tests are unreliable because they can give stable results on the same slopes we are seeing avalanches. Slopes with tracks on them seem safe yet we are still seeing avalanches after multiple people have ridden the slope. This is why we are asking people to dial it back. Even with mixed field information, large avalanches are still occuring on this weak layer. Rather than trying to outsmart this problem it is safer to enjoy soft snow in less consequential terrain away from steep overhead slopes.
Cornices will be growing all day increasing the chance they fall and trigger an avalanche above you. This is another reason why today is not the day to travel below steep slopes. If you cannot avoid them try to spend as little time under them as possible.
Glide Avalanches: Glide cracks will likely be hard to see today. They are still releasing as glide avalanches so try to avoid traveling under these. If you do encounter one, spend as little time underneath them as possible.
