Persistent Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Unlikely
- Dimensione
- 1–2
We have two persistent weak layers that we are paying attention to. Both are in the upper snow pack and neither has proven weak enough to result in avalanches. That doesn't mean that it is OK to disregard them. Riding steep and committing slopes at the indicated elevations and aspects without some investigation would be fool hardy. The compression test is a perfect tool for learning about these layers.
The first is a layer of buried surface hoar that is down 20 cm. and present on sheltered slopes predominently near treeline and just above.
The second weak layer consists of poorly developed facets beneath a crust that is down 30 cm. It is most prevalent and weakest on the coldest slopes (shady North slopes near treeline and above).
We'll be watching and remembering these layers, particularly if we receive a lot of new snow.