Boletín de aludes

Banner Summit

Sawtooth Avalanche Center
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Peligro de aludes

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

Lo esencial

Avoid slopes where the wind has formed drifts or stiffened the snow surface to significantly reduce the chance of triggering an avalanche.  While less likely, triggering avalanches is possible in areas sheltered from the wind. The effects of the wind, and the danger, increase as you climb in elevation. 

Problemas de aludes

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Very Likely
    Tamaño
    1.5–2

    Expect to trigger 1-3 ft thick slabs where the wind drifted snow. Natural avalanches are possible at upper elevations. Both the size and likelihood of avalanches will increase as you move up in elevation and as the storm progresses. You may find some wind slabs in middle elevation terrain that is typically sheltered from the wind.

    Many of the wind slabs overlie well-developed weak layers; here, avalanches could break easily, wider than expected, or above you. 

    If the snow surface becomes stiffer, you've found a wind slab. Cracks shooting out from your skis or boards are an obvious sign of instability. Watch for ripples, dunes, and fresh cornices, signs the wind has been at work. 

    Wind Slab avalanches could "step down", triggering the much larger Persistent Slab avalanches described below. 

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta montaña
    • Límite del bosque
    • Bajo el límite del bosque
    Probabilidad
    Possible
    Tamaño
    2–3

    Huge, destructive avalanches over 3 feet thick are possible.  Wind-loaded slopes are most suspect. Snowfall and wind-driven snow is overloading weak faceted snow near the ground. The chances of triggering one of these slides is greatest where it takes serious effort to push your ski pole to the ground, or your sled track is not easily punching through to the ground when you grab the throttle; unfortunately, you'll find this scenario on many slopes in this zone.

    Accurately determining whether a given slope is safe to ski or ride is incredibly difficult. You may or may not observe obvious warning signs like snowpack cracking or collapsing before triggering a slide. Avalanches could be triggered remotely, from gentler terrain below, above, or to the sides of steep slopes.  Persistent Slab avalanches can break wider and higher on slopes (above you!) than you might expect.

Avalanche Discussion

If you want to guarantee you won't get caught or buried in an avalanche, stay out of the way until the proverbial dust, or powder clouds, settle. The combination of 1-2 feet of snowfall and strong winds is too much for our weak snowpack to handle. Avalanches could release near the old snow surface or near the ground; in either case, the slides will be large enough to bury people.    

If you decide to head into the mountains today, recognize that avalanches can release naturally or be triggered from flat terrain a long distance from the slope. Enjoy the fresh snow and great skiing and riding conditions, but be careful about the slopes you choose to ski or ride as well as what's above you.

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