Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1–2
New snow and consistent southwest winds in the past days have likely created large slabs in the alpine. Keep on top of your game and look for signs of drifting snow, sculpted features near ridgelines, and hollow sounding or stiff feeling pockets of snow.
You will most likely find these wind slabs living under cornices, on the lee-sides of ridgelines, and on steep open slopes on the upper mountain. With changing wind directions out of the south and east, don’t be surprised if you find these areas of drifted snow in unusual locations, such as on westerly aspects.
As you gain elevation into the alpine, it will be critical to use cautious route finding and avoid large, open slopes that have seen active wind loading in the previous days. These areas of wind drifted snow could still be reactive and if triggered, be quite large.
Cornices are great indicators of potentially wind -loaded terrain beneath.
Photo: Joe Dellaporta