Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
You can trigger a slab avalanche on wind-drifted snow in a gully or on the leeward side of a ridgeline. You can also easily trigger a loose avalanche on very steep, shady slopes. Most avalanches you trigger on Thursday may be small but they will run farther than you expect as they gouge into older weak snow. Even a small avalanche can knock you over and drag you off a cliff or through rocks. To reduce your chances of being caught in an avalanche seek out wind-sheltered terrain and if your feet, skis, or machine are sinking deep into the snowpack, indicating you are on a slope with weak, cohesionless snow, avoid traveling on slopes steeper than about 35 degrees.