Wind Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Possible
- Tamaño
- 1–2
It could be easy to trigger a wind slab avalanche up to a foot deep above the treeline. There are a variety of layers these wind slabs formed on top of which may make them more reactive. The most concerning setup is a wind slab on top layer of buried surface hoar. This is the same problem we have in Turnagain Pass. For now there is much less snow over this weak layer and the avalanches are smaller. This was the case for a human triggered avalanche on Tenderfoot earlier this week that failed on buried surface hoar. Wind slabs have also formed over a slick crust that may take longer to bond together. A sun crust was observed at from 2,200' to 2,600’ on solar slopes and is likely higher.
Wind slabs are more common in steep terrain below ridgelines, rollovers (convexities), and in loaded gullies. Look for shooting cracks and test small wind loaded slopes. Look out for shooting cracks and snow that becomes stiff. These are clues you are traveling on a wind slab.
(3/3/2025)
Looking down towards the path. The avalanche ran about 1,000' and the powder cloud went to the valley bottom.
Photo: Mik Dalpes