Persistent Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 2–3
You can trigger a large and dangerous avalanche that breaks on a layer of weak snow around two to four feet below the snow surface. You might be able to travel on a slope dozens of times before triggering an avalanche so keep in mind that tracks on a slope do not mean that slope is safe. You are most likely to trigger an avalanche on shallow, uneven slopes facing west through north to southeast near and above treeline. To decrease your chances of triggering an avalanche avoid unsupported, rocky, uneven slopes where it is easier to impact the deeply buried weak snow. Safer travel options can be found by sticking to sunny slopes with a supportable crust or by avoiding travel on or directly under slopes steeper than 30 degrees on aspects of concern.