Persistent Slabs
N
NE
E
SE
S
SW
W
NW
- Alpine
- Treeline
- Below treeline
- Likelihood
- Possible
- Size
- 1–2
You can trigger avalanches on slopes that have more than about 12 inches of recent snow. Relatively small avalanches may break within the recently drifted snow but they could become larger and more dangerous if slides step down into the weak layers near the ground. The most dangerous slopes are steep northerly and easterly facing, near ridge crest. Shooting cracks and collapsing are signs of instability, but they may not be present before you trigger a large avalanche.