Loose Wet
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
There are two varieties of wet loose avalanches to consider today:
- Wet loose - new snow: Dozens of natural wet loose avalanches occurred in the last couple of days. Many of them initiated in rocky, alpine terrain as the warmth from direct sun weakened fresh snow at the surface. Today, this problem will start on slopes that face E-SE and work its way around through S-SW and W as the sun tracks across the sky. Use fresh-looking, recent, wet loose activity as an indication of where these slides are most likely again today.
- Wet loose - old snow: At lower and middle elevations, deeper, gouging wet loose avalanches are possible. These slides are most likely later in the afternoon as the ice crusts at the surface turn to mush. You're most likely to encounter these on very steep, wind-sheltered slopes. If you can easily push your foot or ski pole through much of the snowpack, or if the tail of your sled or bike drops deeply when you goose the throttle, you have likely found a snowpack where this type of problem is possible.
Note how the snow surface is changing. If it's easy to make snowballs, or you are falling through crusts into slushy snow underneath, the chance of wet loose avalanches is increasing. You can greatly reduce your risk by sticking to colder snow on more shaded slopes or by traveling earlier in the day when the snow surfaces are firm.
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION:Yesterday's moderate W and NW wind formed small, sensitive drifts at upper elevations. Tuesday, an experienced party intentionally ski cut a small slab avalanche just north of this zone on Copper Mountain. You might find similar conditions on isolated slopes, especially in the Northern Sawtooths. Look for cracks shooting from your skis or board as an indication that you've found a sensitive slab. See the Forecast Discussion below for more details.
