Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Likely
- Size
- 1–2
A Special Avalanche Advisory is in effect. Feet of recent snow and strong winds have formed thick cohesive slabs above an unusually shallow and weak snowpack. Avalanche conditions will remain dangerous through the weekend. Careful planning and conservative terrain selection is essential for safe travel in backcountry avalanche terrain.
You can easily trigger a slide on slopes with drifted snow. If you trigger a slide, it is likely to step down into deeper, weak layers and be large enough to bury a person. You can trigger these avalanches from flat areas below steep slopes.
You can find safer riding on slopes sheltered from the wind and on slopes less than about 30 degrees that are not connected to steeper terrain.