Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–1.5
Yesterday near Ketchum, avalanche professionals remotely triggered a small wind slab from 100' away on a wind-loaded, NE aspect (see photo). Monday, Ben triggered a small wind slab near a middle elevation ridgeline on Galena Peak. Two takeaways from these minor events:
- Weak snow underneath: The small drifts and slabs buried weak, faceted snow that formed during the January drought. Remotely triggering an avalanche as small as the one in Lake Creek is a rare occurrence and requires a sensitive weak layer.
- Location and size: Both human-triggered slides occurred at ridgelines in exposed middle elevation terrain. The drifts were thin and did not extend far below the trigger point.
Keep your eyes peeled for textured, wind-sculpted snow surfaces, especially near exposed ridgelines. The fresh wind slabs are not widespread, but they formed above variable snow surfaces (facets, crusts, wind-affected surfaces, possibly surface hoar) and could be sensitive to your weight on some slopes. Although small, they may be large enough to knock you off your feet. Consider the consequences of triggering a small slide if you are traveling in serious terrain.
(2/1/2022) Local avalanche professionals remotely triggered this small wind slab from about 100' away. The drifted snow buried a layer of weak, faceted snow that formed during the recent dry spell. NE aspect near 6500' in the Lake Ck drainage (Chris Marshall photo).