Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 2–3
You can trigger an avalanche where you find more than about ten inches of new snow at upper elevations. Look for and avoid slopes with pillow-like drifts of snow and cross-loaded slopes. Retreat to low-angled slopes or wind-sheltered slopes if you see cracking within the new snow.
There is a chance you could trigger a deeper and more dangerous avalanche that breaks two to four feet deep without any warning signs. To reduce your chances of triggering one of these deeper slides, avoid steep slopes with a thinner-than-average snow pack where triggering a large and destructive avalanche is easier.