Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1–2
What and where is it: Southwest winds yesterday and strong northwest winds today have formed both hard and soft wind slabs on easterly aspects from the 5-6 inches of snow in the last 48 hours. The largest slabs will likely be found between 3,000 and 5,000 feet and may be 1–2 feet thick, especially in direct wind-loaded and cross-loaded terrain features. Summer Lionhead Trail will likely have a dangerous wind slab today. How can you recognize it: Visibility may be poor today, making instability clues harder to spot. Look for smooth pillows, dunes, and wind-sculpted drifts below ridgelines and along the sides of cross-loaded gullies. Hard slabs can feel hollow underfoot. Soft slabs will feel less supportive. Use boot penetration and a ski pole to estimate slab thickness. Blowing snow is a red flag for continued loading and increases the chance of natural wind slab avalanches.
How can you manage it: If you are finding a connected drift that is deeper than your boot tops, you are finding a problem that could have consequential size. Use hand shears and column tests to assess stability throughout the day. Traveling on firm snow surfaces will help reduce your possibility of triggering an avalanche. Limit your time below avalanche paths to reduce your risk of getting hit by a natural or human triggered avalanche.