Loose Wet
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 1–2
Despite above-freezing temperatures all night long, clearing skies may form a new surface crust on previously wet snow surfaces by Wednesday morning. However, with another mild day on tap, those surface crusts should not be hard to break down on steep sunny aspects.
Pay attention to the snow surface throughout the day as you change aspects and elevations. A wet loose avalanche on bigger slopes could quickly entrain additional wet snow and take you for a ride far down slope. Use extra care near terrain traps, like open creeks, above trees, and cliffs where even a small slide could easily do damage.
While the focus should be on steep sunny aspects, use the same caution on any slope you find yourself sinking into wet, manky snow. Look up - small wet loose avalanches may continue to release below steep sunny rock faces throughout the day.
In isolated areas, glide or shed-style avalanche may slide off smooth rock faces or heather slopes. The simplest advice is to put plenty of space between you and the extreme terrain features where these slides are most likely to fail. Don't travel directly below areas where you see new glide cracks that have opened up over the last few days.
A handful of recent wet loose avalanches low on the east side of Herman in neighboring West North.
On Wednesday, wet loose avalanches are more likely on steep southerly aspects, or anywhere you find yourself sinking into wet manky snow.
Photo: Lee Lazzara