Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
Bottom line... Its been windy out of the W-SW, and we've received a steady trickle of snow over the past several days. Plenty of cold snow remains available for transport. This was evident yesterday morning. From town, one could see wind blowing snow on the mountain. Some of that snow may have blown away or down into low angle gullies, but some is likely to have loaded into avalanche starting zones. Places like Sun Bowl and Powder Bowl are perfect examples. Traditional start zones are potentially loaded, but perhaps other mid-slope starting zones, too. We don't have many above treeline observations, so some uncertainty exists. That said, several ingredients for wind slab avalanches exists, and those ingredients are going to continue to pepper the near and above treeline backcountry terrain. Play it safe in windy, alpine avalanche terrain.
Test for wind slabs by stomping on wind drifts and roll-overs in SAFE terrain. If you see blocking or shooting cracks, then wind slabs may be forming in terrain near you.