Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2.5
There are several generations of wind slabs that need some more time to heal.
We are in a bit of a stagnant pattern until it snows. The danger rating is decreasing in alpine terrain but human triggerring is still POSSIBLE. 10-20cm of new snow is on the horizon for Saturday...
There are several generations of wind slabs that need some more time to heal.
It is worth to dig a pit to ground to see the severity of this basal layer. If it hasnt yet slid, treat it with a high degree of suspicion and respect. If it goes, it will be big.
Wednesday will be a mix of sun and cloud with temperatures around -5C. Winds will be light in the Am and then increasing throughout the day. No significant precip is expected.
On the snow study helicopter flight today, we had an extensive look around and only found a few loose dry avalanches out of steep unskiable terrain.
Today, we tagged along by helicopter with the crew that does monitoring of the snowpack for spring melt. To the East of highway 40, the bottom half of the snowpack is mostly facets with the height of snow around 100cm. The last week of warmer weather is having a slow effect on the snowpack with weaker temperature gradients and starting to see some of those mid-pack facets rounding. In general, we have a well settled snowpack with several generations of wind slabs in the top 50 cm in the alpine. All of this is still sitting on the November facet/crust combo.