Adamello

Wind slabs represent the main danger. The wind slabs are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls and generally at high altitudes.

Wind slabs represent the main danger. The wind slabs are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls and generally at high altitudes.

As a consequence of a moderate to strong northwesterly wind, rather small wind slabs will form in gullies and bowls and behind abrupt changes in the terrain. Weak layers in the old snowpack represent the main danger. In isolated cases the avalanches are medium-sized and can be released by a single winter sport participant, caution is to be exercised in particular on very steep shady slopes above approximately 2200 m, and on wind-loaded slopes.

The snowpack remains subject to considerable local variations above approximately 2200 m. The wind slabs are lying on top of a weakly bonded old snowpack on shady slopes at elevated altitudes. Faceted weak layers exist in the bottom section of the old snowpack in shady places that are protected from the wind. At low and intermediate altitudes thus far only a little snow is lying. Towards its base, the snowpack consists of faceted crystals, especially on shady slopes.