Persistent Slabs
- Alpin
- Limite forestière
- Sous la limite forestière
- Probabilité
- Possible
- Taille
- 1
Over the past few weeks winds blowing from the west pressed stiff, hard slabs together that feel solid under our ride, yet sit atop a sugary layer of faceted snow that formed over the recent stretch of high pressure. In specific places above treeline, on steep and rocky slopes with an easterly component, these slabs live on faceted snow are reacting to our additional weight well after they originally formed -- This is why we have transitioned our wind-drifted snow problem to a persistent weak layer. I bet it will be difficult to trigger an avalanche today, but if you're getting after it on sustained, steep terrain in the alpine, remember even a small slide in consequential terrain could turn nasty quickly if it strains me through trees, rocks, or over cliffs.
Fortunately, we can avoid this problem by seeking wind sheltered terrain out of the alpine where you'll be greeted with less avalanche danger and protected, cold, recycled powder.