Avalanche forecast

Northwest Mountains

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Avalanche danger

Mon
Alpine
2 · Moderate
Treeline
1 · Low
Below
1 · Low
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Out of date — this forecast expired 4 years ago. You’re viewing past conditions, not the current bulletin.

Highlights

You can trigger avalanches on wind-drifted slopes above treeline.  Stiffer/hard snow surfaces on leeward terrain are a good indicator that you have found a potentially problematic spot. In some places, triggered avalanches could grow large enough to bury or injure you.  You can find safer routes by selecting wind-sheltered terrain with soft surface conditions.

Avalanche problems

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alpine
    • Treeline
    • Below treeline
    Likelihood
    Possible
    Size
    1–2

    Westerly winds over the past several days have drifted low-density snow onto the east half of the compass forming hard Wind Slabs.  You are most likely to encounter a sensitive Wind Slab above treeline, but you could also find wind-drifted deposits near treeline just less frequently.  Stiff and hollow-sounding snow beneath ridgelines, below cornices, or behind terrain breaks indicate potentially unstable snow.  Faceted grains underneath the wind-drifted slabs and the cold air temperatures will likely keep this problem lingering for several days.  Watch the adjacent video for a great visual and verbal description of the current Wind Slab avalanche problem.

Avalanche Discussion

Change is slow for the Wind Slab problem for two reasons; the hard wind-deposited snow that comprises the slab will not facet away with the cold temperatures as slabs are too dense for the faceting process to weaken it and in many places, the slab rests on top of faceted grains of snow.  The threat of human-triggered avalanches will linger with this combination of stiff slab and persistent weak layer.  The best way to prevent triggering an avalanche is to avoid steep, wind-drifted terrain at upper elevations.  Look for soft surface conditions where your skis, board, or snowmachine sink into the snowpack as this indicates the wind hasn't formed a slab.

Human-triggered avalanches occurred on Tuesday(Mount Baldy), Thursday(Galena Mountain), and Friday(Mount Baldy) this week.  Take a look at these observations and the images in the media gallery to get a clearer picture of where you can expect to find the Wind Slab problem; by examining where recent avalanches have been triggered, you can better identify and avoid similar suspect terrain in the field.

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