New snow may be hiding hard old wind slabs. Watch out for lee features even if there aren't obvious signs of fresh wind loading.
Problemas de aludes
Wind Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alta montaña
Límite del bosque
Bajo el límite del bosque
Probabilidad
Possible
Tamaño
1–3
Wind slabs may be found in the lee of exposed features in the alpine and treeline.
Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
Alta montaña
Límite del bosque
Bajo el límite del bosque
Probabilidad
Unlikely - Possible
Tamaño
3–6
A couple of persistent and deep persistent weak layers remain a low probability high consequence concern. Large avalanches can be triggered from thin spots or by heavy loads such as a cornice release or smaller avalanche.
Moderate winds have created fresh wind slabs in the alpine and at treeline, and grown cornices at ridgeline. The recent snow may sit above a crust on sunny aspects or surface hoar in isolated shady locations. A more widespread crust may be found just below the surface at lower elevations. In general the upper snow pack is reported to be bonding well to a crust buried in early February, now 40 to 80cm down, that extends up to around 2000m. The early January surface hoar can typically be found between 60 and 140cm down. Although it is getting harder to trigger in most places this layer remains a concern, especially in the north and east of the region. Shallow snowpack areas also have a weak base layer of facetted snow just above the ground.