Loose Dry
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Likely
- Dimensione
- 1–1.5
12-20" of recent storm snow will see full sunshine for the first time today. Dry loose avalanches began shedding yesterday in steep terrain. Expect that theme to continue today. The upper 6-12" of recent snow is light and soft. Beneath that, the snow is denser and more consolidated. Expect this upper snow to be able to move with you in terrain steeper than 30 degrees. Although dry loose avalanches (sluffs) may not be large enough to bury a person, they could certainly knock you off your feet or bump you and your machine of course.
Be prepared to manage loose snow today and pay attention to terrain traps. Gullies or depressions are places where loose snow can funnel and pile up. Terrain traps also include exposed areas like cliffs, rocks, and steep terrain that funnels into trees. If you plan to enter steep, consequential terrain, ask yourself, "If I get knocked off my feet or machine, where will I end up?"
(2/16/2024) View of avalanches from Brundage looking at S aspect of Sargents Photo: Michael Fitzgerald