Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
The latest round of wind slabs formed during the weak system that passed through Thursday and Friday. These formed on top of very weak surfaces, and are still a concern even though we are not expecting to see any active loading today. The most problematic terrain will have a thicker layer of dense snow at the surface, which may be up to a foot deep in some of the terrain that saw the most loading.
You may see warning signs like shooting cracks or collapsing that clearly indicate unstable conditions. Sometimes it takes a little more work to sniff out that problematic setup, which you can do by using small terrain features as test slopes, or by taking a moment to hop off your snowmachine or step off the skin track and see if there is a thicker, stiffer layer of new snow on the surface. Look for stable snow and the best riding in terrain that has remained sheltered from recent winds.
Glide Avalanches: We're continuing to see glide avalanche activity throughout the forecast area. These avalanches are large and unpredictable, so the only way to manage this problem is to avoid spending time under open glide cracks.
Cornices are large and sensitive following the new snow and wind over the past few days. There have been multiple reports of cornices falling on the back side of Seattle Ridge at Turnagain Pass (details here), and similar conditions likely exist along most ridgelines in the Seward/Lost Lake zone. These may occur naturally, or they can be triggered from ridgelines. You can reduce your exposure by avoiding traveling under large cornices, and giving them plenty of space if you are traveling along ridgelines.
(2/21/2025)
The new snow that fell on Friday shouldn't be a major concern in sheltered terrain, but was likely blown into wind slabs up to a foot deep in some alpine terrain.
Photo: Daniel Krueger