Border Graie Alps

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be assessed with care and prudence.

Wind slabs and weakly bonded old snow are to be assessed with care and prudence.

The wind slabs can be released by a single winter sport participant in some cases in particular on very steep shady slopes at intermediate and high altitudes. Caution is to be exercised in particular adjacent to ridgelines and in gullies and bowls. The wind slabs are covered with new snow and therefore difficult to recognise. Avalanches can also penetrate deep layers and reach large size in isolated cases. Maintaining distances between individuals and one-at-a-time descents are recommended.

The new snow of the weekend is bonding only slowly with the old snowpack. Faceted weak layers exist deeper in the old snowpack in particular on shady slopes.