Wind Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Possible
- Tamaño
- 1
Some instability could linger in near and above treeline terrain where slabs of wind drifted snow exist. Triggering an avalanche involving one of these wind slabs remains possible on wind-loaded aspects. Most of these avalanches would remain small (D1) but some could involve enough snow to bury or injure a person (D2). Regardless of the size, any avalanche could have consequences since collisions with barely covered or exposed rocks, stumps, and other obstacles would be inevitable.
Use clues like drifted snow, cornices above slopes, blowing snow, and other wind created surface textures to help identify where unstable wind slabs may still linger. While the snowpack may be the "best it has been in months" as one observer put it, it is still shallow and many equipment and body wrecking obstacles exist. "Going big" right now isn't worth the rest of the season on the couch. Lower angle slopes may provide more supportable coverage and easier speed management to help mitigate some of the early season hazards and any lingering avalanche concerns.