Boletín de aludes

Southeast Mountains

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

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

Lo esencial

The snowpack remains on the edge of failure and only needs a trigger to release.  Expect to easily trigger a dangerous avalanche on any slope with weak snow near the ground.  You can release an avalanche from a surprisingly long distance and from below.  You can greatly reduce your risk of avalanches by choosing low-angle terrain that is completely free from steep slopes above. 

Problemas de aludes

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Likely
    Tamaño
    1.5–2.5

     Continuous snowfall and blowing snow have made persistent slabs very sensitive to human triggers.  There's a widespread weak layer of facets and faceted crusts buried by 2 to 3 foot slabs on northwest to northeast to southeast aspects. The slabs are largest in leeward terrain at higher elevations.  The problem is less common, but still possible, on windward terrain or south-facing slopes that hold old snow layers near the ground.  Choose routes that keep you off and out from under steep terrain that holds old snow below our recent storms.  Collapses and shooting cracks are clear signs of danger warning you to stay on slope angles that are consistently less than 30 degrees.  

    Recent natural avalanches in the Southeast Mountains zone (Mount Whetstone).  This is a good representation of the size and propagation potential of triggered avalanches.

  • Wind Slabs

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

    An increase in westerly wind speeds on Thursday drifted snow to leeward terrain features.  Wind slabs are most likely to be found on the eastern half of the compass below ridges, rollovers, and cross-loaded gullies.  Wind slabs are likely to step down and trigger a larger persistent slab avalanche where the two problems overlap.  Cracking is a clear sign you have found unstable snow. 

Avalanche Discussion

Snowfall and wind drifting since Tuesday have kept the snowpack teetering near the edge of failure.  Simply look through the media gallery below and scroll through the observations page to view the stream of recent natural and human-triggered avalanches.  Make no mistake, avalanche conditions remain dangerous.  Even though the loading period has largely ended, there's a chance for natural avalanches if you observed continued wind-loading today, and human-triggered avalanches remain likely.  Slopes facing west through north through southeast are the most dangerous due to the well-documented persistent weak layer.

Slabs have gained strength over the past few days and this increase in strength only serves to drive propagation further and create bigger avalanches.  Thoughtfully consider your exposure to overhead hazards as you make a plan for today.  Choosing low-angled terrain, 30 degrees or less, that is not beneath steeper terrain is the best defense against the current Persistent Slab problem.

The snowpack isn't nearly as dangerous on slopes that were bare dirt prior to our recent storms.  These two observations from the Northwest Mountains and Southeast Mountains document the distribution of our problematic weak layer that formed during November's dry spell.  In terrain that's lacking the troublesome old snow layer, you'll need to manage storm instabilities that developed over the past few days of snowfall and wind.  Even steep terrain without old snow near the ground requires thoughtful assessment and terrain selection as an avalanche just in recent snow can be large enough to cause harm.  

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