Galena Summit & Eastern Mtns

Avalanche problems

• 

  Persistent Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Very Likely

  Size

  2–3

  Large human-triggered avalanches are very likely to occur. These massive 2-4 foot thick slides will fail on faceted snow on shadier slopes and crust + facet combinations on sunnier slopes. 

  Expect avalanches to release in surprising ways. You can trigger them from flat or low-angle terrain long distances away from steep slopes, and they can break far above you. Before triggering an avalanche, you may or may not experience snowpack collapsing or other obvious signs of instability. 

  

• 

  Wind Slabs

  N

  NE

  E

  SE

  S

  SW

  W

  NW

  • Alpine
  • Treeline
  • Below treeline

  Likelihood

  Certain

  Size

  1–2

  Natural and human-triggered avalanches will occur on many slopes exposed to the wind. Expect 1-2 foot thick wind slabs at upper elevations. These slides will be large enough to bury people, and they can also trigger much larger Persistent Slab avalanches as they run downslope. The wind slabs overlie very weak snow on many slopes, making them especially easy to trigger. With natural avalanches being likely, pay attention to the terrain above you.

  Due to the weak snow beneath the current snowfall storm slabs and loose snow avalanches are possible in terrain sheltered from the wind. This afternoon, any prolonged period of sun will likely produce natural, loose snow avalanches on very steep slopes. These will not be as large as the wind slab avalanches, but they are not insignificant.