Wind Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 2
Soft and hard slabs of wind drifted snow exist in the mid and upper elevations on many aspects. These may be increasingly stubborn to trigger, but don't rule out triggering one of these in steep, localized terrain features. The very close call with an unsurvivable avalanche in Big Springs of the south fork serves as a stark reminder that even generally outlier avalanches can be catastrophic. I would avoid recently heavily wind loaded areas over a thin snowpack area.
CORNICES are currently large and growing and may be particularly sensitive and tender during periods of sun, warm temperatures and strong winds. Give cornices, and the edges of cornices a wide berth as they often break farther back than expected. Limit your exposure to slopes below cornices. Cornices are signs that a slope has been wind loaded and a cornice fall could trigger a larger slab of wind-drifted snow below.