Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Unlikely
- Size
- 1–2
Most slopes are safe from avalanches. The few slopes where you might be able to trigger an avalanche are where you find a hard, cohesive slab of wind-drifted snow on slopes facing northwest through north to east near and above treeline. If you travel on steep slopes that face these directions you can increase your safety margins by avoiding shallow spots on a slope such as convex rollovers, rock outcrops on otherwise smooth planar slopes, and going around any wind-loaded, steep slopes just below ridgelines and around rock outcrops that face aspects of concern.