Wet Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1–2
The most dangerous slopes to trigger a wet snow avalanche face east through south to west. Avoid steeper slopes where you sink past your shins into wet, cohesionless snow. Loose wet slides can gouge deeper while traveling down the slope, and may trigger a larger, more destructive slab avalanche. Prolonged, warm weather has expanded surface wetting to even northerly-facing slopes near and below treeline, increasing the wet snow hazard on shadier slopes. Consider the terrain below you, where a small avalanche could have big consequences.
To help reduce your wet snow avalanche hazard, start early and end early. Falling cornice onto easterly-facing slopes below may trigger a larger slide. Give these beast an extra wide buffer if traveling above or on slopes below them.