Wind Slabs
- Hochgebirge
- Waldgrenze
- Unterhalb der Waldgrenze
- Wahrscheinlichkeit
- Possible
- Größe
- 1
Newly formed wind slabs 6 inches to 2 feet deep exist in a variety of lee areas both near and above treeline. In above treeline areas, wind slab location has proven more predictable with less interruption to wind direction. In near treeline areas, swirling winds created pockets of both deposition and scouring on all aspects. This created pockets of wind slab formation on all aspects near treeline. Human triggered avalanches remain possible, with increased difficulty of triggering expected going into the new year.
Keep in mind that while increased difficulty of triggering is an indication of increasing stability, it also means that detecting lingering pockets of instability becomes increasingly challenging. Slope by slope stability evaluation and one at a time travel from one well defined island of safety to another are wise choices when managing challenging to detect lingering instability.