West Slopes Central

Avalanche problems

• 

  Loose Wet

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Likely

  Size

  1–2

  Our first round of wet loose avalanche activity was on Wednesday. The day will be a little warmer, but given the high uncertainty with sun breaks, we could get more activity - or we could get less -  than the previous day. 

  Wet avalanches are usually fairly easy to predict. Track the sky cover and sun exposure. If the sun is shining intensely on steep slopes facing it directly for a couple of minutes, that might be enough for the surface to loose cohesion, and rollerballs or point releases might start coming down. If you notice wet, heavy snow at your feet, it's probably a good time to steer clear of steep slopes that are nearby. You could trigger an avalanche in the wet surface layer. 

  If you notice wet snow or any signs of natural avalanches, shift to lower angle terrain away from steep slopes, or change aspects to locations that don't face directly into the sun. In the morning more easterly slopes will be affected, before south-facing midday and westerly in the afternoon. West-facing slopes weren't as impacted by the sun on Tuesday since sky cover increased in the afternoon. 

  Overnight temperatures will be warm, but if we have clear skies, any previously moist snow will freeze and become crusty. Surface crusts will soften as temperatures increase and the sun further impacts them during the day. Cloud cover might soften more surfaces, or possibly even result in wet avalanches on more aspects than those facing the sun. 

  

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Unlikely

  Size

  1

  There's a small chance that you could trigger a shallow avalanche in a newly wind drifted deposit. If you see the wind actively redistributing snow, or find smooth or wind-textured surfaces, consider investigating how well the snow is sticking to the underlying layer. Use small test slopes, or dig down with your hand to see how easily a column pulls off. If failures are easy then consider shifting away from steep, unsupported slopes nearby. You're most likely to find new deposits around rocky outcroppings, near ridgelines and rolls, and in gullies. 

  Your biggest concern with wind slab avalanches- or getting caught in a wet slide for that matter - is terrain traps. Even if avalanches are small, if they knock you off your feet and send you off a cliff, or into a boulderfield or stand of trees, or better yet, into a gully where you can get buried deeply, then your chances of survival are low. Stop, think, and evaluate the snow before entering terrain where you're above any of these features.