Boletín de aludes

Northern New Mexico

Taos Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

Sat
Alta montaña
2 · Moderado
Límite del bosque
2 · Moderado
Bajo el límite
2 · Moderado
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Desactualizado: este boletín caducó 4 years ago. Estás viendo condiciones pasadas, no el boletín vigente.

Lo esencial

It's possible to trigger a persistent slab avalanche on faceted weak layers near the ground at all elevations.  Avoid slopes where you find a poor snowpack structure of cohesive slabs over faceted weak layers below.  Obvious signs of instability like shooting cracks and loud collapses may not be present in travels and give you a false sense of safety.  You are more likely to impact deeper buried weak layers where the overlying slab is thinner. These likely trigger points are typically found on the margins of the slabs, near trees, and rock outcrops. If you were to trigger an avalanche, there's a chance that it could be large and take with it most of the season's snowpack.

Problemas de aludes

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    1–2

    Deeper down in the snowpack, closer to the ground is where you'll find facets and depth hoar.  These persistent weak layers formed during November and early December dry periods can be found on most slopes and are buried under 1 to 1.5 meters of snow from storms earlier in January.  In pits, these weak layers are typically found under a rain crust, and in deeper snowpacks have been showing signs of strengthening and rounding.  On most slopes, these weak layers will be difficult or stubborn to trigger, but not impossible, as we push further away from the last loading event. 

    Avoid areas on the slope where the slab is thinner, near rock outcrops and on the margins of the slab. It may not be the first person on the slope to get it to release, and tracks on a slope are not an indication that it is safe. Taking the time to dig a quick pit in the terrain you plan to play on, to see if this poor snowpack structure of strong over weak is present is a great way to assess if this persistent slab problem exists.  You can also avoid this problem, by sticking to lower-angle slopes without steep slopes above.  

Avalanche Discussion

If you like spring-like weather, you'll love this weekend with sunny skies and warm temperatures for the beginning of February.  A more active weather pattern impacts us at the beginning of next week as a storm from the Pacific moves into the state. Today we could see temperatures climb above freezing above 11,000' and lower elevation terrain could reach the 40's.  You may encounter small wet loose snow avalanches, especially in steep terrain, near rock bands at lower elevations and solar aspects.  

It's now been close to two weeks since our last snowfall and our persistent weak layers near the ground have been showing signs of strengthening.  Slopes that have a deeper snowpack (over 1.5m) have been settling helping to compress these weak layers as well as driving a weaker temperature gradient throughout the snowpack where we are seeing these weak layers sinter or bond together.  On slopes where the snowpack isn't as deep, this process has been slower. To add some complexity to the situation,  a stout rain crust from early December is helping to cap and preserve these well-developed facets and depth hoar.  At upper elevations, strong winds last week, have stripped and scoured some slopes and loaded others, pressing the surface into firm hard slabs or softer sastrugi. It's a mixed bag out there, with lots of slope-to-slope variabilities. Although the likelihood of triggering a persistent slab avalanche is low, the consequences still remain quite high if you did trigger one, as it could take with it most of the seasons snowpack and produce a large avalanche.  

With the potential of a more active weather pattern next week, the focus will start to shift to the surface. The upper portions of the snowpack have seen lots of changes over the last week and will continue through the weekend.  Sun crusts have been forming on solar aspects from our powerful sun here in the desert southwest. Other slopes have seen near-surface faceting, which is making for decent "recycled powder" riding but will become weak layers of concern once we get more snow and introduce a slab on top. 

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