Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 1–2
Moderate winds coupled with 10+ inches of snowfall formed wind slabs up to 2 feet thick over the past 48 hours. Expect to find these slabs in open terrain, near ridgelines, in cross-loaded gullies, and on steep aprons below cliffs at middle and upper elevations.
Cracks shooting out from your sled or boards are a clear sign you've found a slab and should dial back your terrain choices. Other evidence to look for is wind drifted "whales" or "dunes," wind loaded "lenses" or "pillows," and listen for hollow "drum-like" sounding surface snow. On some slopes, crusts and / or weak snow exist beneath the new snow, meaning that avalanches could be easy to trigger and may break wider than you expect.
(2/24/2025) Large natural avalanche off Copper Mountain
Photo: Ben VandenBos