Salt River and Wyoming Ranges

Problemas de aludes

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Unlikely

  Tamaño

  1–3

  Weak layers of snow are buried 1-3 feet deep, and up to 4 feet deep in upper elevations. These layers can be broken down into two main categories:

  1). Surface hoar layers in the upper portion of the snowpack are buried 1-3 feet deep depending on the elevation. This layer is difficult to manage due to its scattered distribution and reactive nature. Digging a snowpit in one location may not identify this layer. Use extra caution in terrain sheltered from the wind where this layer was preserved and buried. 

   2). Persistent weak layers formed in November and December are buried 2-4 feet deep near the base of the snowpack. These weak, sugary facets are widespread across most aspects and elevations with increased sensitivity in terrain with a shallow snowpack. Reactivity of these layers has decreased over time, but the poor structure still exists. Rapid changing conditions such as snow, wind, or temperature will increase the reactivity of these layers. 

  

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alta montaña
  • Límite del bosque
  • Bajo el límite del bosque

  Probabilidad

  Possible

  Tamaño

  1–2

  Wind slabs formed from a variety of wind directions may still be sensitive to triggering up to 2 feet in depth across an array of aspects in the upper elevations. The Greys picked up around 1.5 feet of snow over the last 5 days with moderate winds out of the west to southeast. Warm temperatures above and near freezing from the last two days will likely make these slabs difficult to trigger. Upper elevations are the primary concern, which experienced the largest loading events and lowest temperatures. Be aware that incoming snowfall today could cover these old slabs making them difficult to identify.