Wind Slabs
- Alta montaña
- Límite del bosque
- Bajo el límite del bosque
- Probabilidad
- Unlikely
- Tamaño
- 1–1.5
What and where is it: Old wind slabs that are 4 - 8 inches thick can be found above 3000 feet on east-facing and south-facing slopes and near sheltered terrain features. These areas of wind-drifted snow are generally well-bonded to the firm layer of snow below and are not expected to show significant signs of instability. However, a small avalanche in very steep terrain is not out of the question today.
How can you recognize it: Look for areas of smooth snow drifts and dig down to the hard, old snow below to understand the stability of these areas. Watch for 4 - 8 inch slabs resting on top of a slick crust layer, which may be present in some south-facing areas, and use your hand or a shovel to test how easily the snow slides on top of this layer.
How can you manage it:If you are finding drifts deeper than your boot tops, take time to assess the sensitivity before committing to traveling on that drift. Consider traveling on the old snow surface that is firm and textured to avoid deeper drifts of new snow. Areas where you will be most likely to encounter wind slabs will be in wind-sheltered terrain features like under cliffs or in gullies.