Lawinenlagebericht

West Slopes North

Northwest Avalanche Center
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Lawinengefahr

Fri
Hochgebirge
2 · Mässig
Waldgrenze
2 · Mässig
Unterhalb
1 · Gering
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Kernpunkte

Wind-drifted pockets of snow are where you are most likely to trigger an avalanche on Thursday. Search for thicker, wind-deposited pillows in terrain variations like in gullies and around features, and avoid the thickly deposited slabs on steep slopes. If more snow falls than expected during the day, the avalanche danger could be higher, especially at above treeline elevations.

Lawinenprobleme

  • Wind Slabs

    • Hochgebirge
    • Waldgrenze
    • Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
    Wahrscheinlichkeit
    Possible
    Größe
    1–2

    If you're going to trigger an avalanche on Thursday it's probably going to be on a wind slab. These slabs could be two feet or deeper, which is large enough to bury and kill you. You're most likely to find these slabs around terrain features, on leeward slopes, and in gullies. Pay attention to pillowlike, drifted appearances of snow as clues to identify where a wind slab is located.  Feel for thicker or deeper snow beneath your feet. Shooting cracks from your feet are obvious indicators that a nearby slope could avalanche. Expect slabs to be larger and more reactive as you gain elevation.  In areas where you find wind-loaded deposits, steer around them on slopes steeper than 35 degrees. 

    You could find wind drifted snow in gullies, where you may be able to trigger an avalanche. This is an old photo from a wind slab avalanche which occurred at Bearpaw, similar to where you might trigger an avalanche on Thursday.  Photo: Patrick Kennedy

Avalanche Discussion

If you see gaping glide cracks, avoid traveling beneath them, as they could still avalanche unexpectedly.  Forecaster Lee Lazzara went out with one of our new interns, Keeley Rideout, in the Baker backcountry on Wednesday and found evidence of avalanches size D2.5 to 3 (up to very large), most of which probably occurred near the start of the warming event around Christmas Eve. They found surprisingly good skiing conditions in non wind-loaded areas where the foot of new snow was right side up and well bonded to the moist underlying snow.   The several inches of rain we received reshaped the landscape, and unexpected holes and other hazards were found during their travels.  The old snow layer was supportable on skis, boards, and snowshoes on Wednesday, but just on your feet you could sink down in the moist snow. That layer will slowly freeze up as the water drains and temperatures remain cooler, although the new snow sitting on top is hampering the speed at which the moist layer hardens by insulating it and keeping it warmer.  

Let us know how conditions were and if you saw any avalanches if you make it into the backcountry on Thursday by submitting an observation HERE. 

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