Storm Slabs
- Alpin
- Limite forestière
- Sous la limite forestière
- Probabilité
- Very Likely
- Taille
- 1–2
You might need to do a double-take when you read the copious amount of new snow that has fallen in the Blues since January 4. The High Ridge snotel has received 5.5" of Snow water equivalent (SWE), which roughly translates to 5.5' of snow. Milkshakes snotel has received 7" of SWE in this same period. At some point, the balance is tipped with rapid snowfall, and we start seeing failures in the new storm snow. These storm slabs, may not appear to have much hardness or density, but the snowpack just can't adjust to this rapid new load fast enough.
The bottom line is you can go out and get face shots all day in simple terrain. If you decide to ride under even a steep roadcut (>30 degrees) you'll be throwing the dice and risking your life. So the choice is yours, but is pretty straightforward.