Persistent Slabs
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 2
The most suspect terrain remains true north and northeast aspects, where soft slabs are breaking at the new snow old snow interface, especially in areas of the Northern Ogden Range that received higher water totals, such as Powder Mountain or the Monte Cristo Zone.
A cohesive soft slab 6 to 14 inches thick sits over weak, sugary facets that formed during the January drought. Hand pits, test slopes, and recent avalanche activity continue to show the same structure: dense new or wind-drifted snow resting on weak facets. It is a straightforward setup and remains unstable. Human triggered avalanches are still possible on steep northerly-facing terrain at upper elevations and down into some mid-elevations in favored areas.
While the problem is primarily on northerly aspects, the underlying weak structure exists across the northern half of the compass, west through east. With additional loading expected next week, the problem could expand onto a broader range of terrain.
Cracking and collapsing may be less common today, and that limited feedback can create a false sense of security. These slabs can still fail on the persistent weak layer and may be triggered from a distance. Treat steep north half terrain with caution, especially slopes that have seen recent wind loading.