Northern Lepontine Alps

The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs represent the main danger.

The fresh and somewhat older wind slabs represent the main danger.

The fresh and older wind slabs can be released easily or naturally above approximately 1800 m, caution is to be exercised adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas, as well as at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack, when entering gullies and bowls for example. In isolated cases the avalanches can be released in the faceted old snow and reach large size. In little used terrain the situation is rather unfavourable. Backcountry touring calls for caution and restraint.

In all aspects snow depths vary greatly above approximately 2000 m, depending on the infuence of the wind. Adjacent to ridgelines and in pass areas at elevated altitudes hardly any snow is lying. In some places new snow and wind slabs are lying on old snow containing large grains.