Border Graie Alps

Wind slabs are to be avoided as far as possible at intermediate and high altitudes.

Wind slabs are to be avoided as far as possible at intermediate and high altitudes.

As a consequence of the occasionally strong wind, the snow drift accumulations have increased in size. The avalanche prone locations are to be found in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls above approximately 2200 m and at transitions from a shallow to a deep snowpack. Wind slabs can be released, even by a single winter sport participant and reach large size in isolated cases.

In some cases the wind slabs have bonded still only poorly with the old snowpack. At elevated altitudes snow depths vary greatly, depending on the infuence of the wind. At low altitude only a small amount of snow is lying for the time of year.