Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Likely
- Dimensione
- 1–2
Recent windblown snow has formed wind slabs 1-2 feet deep on lee slopes. Several weak layers exist in the surface snow from periods of sunshine and light snow. All of this sits above mid-January's stout crust. Over the last several days, winds have been strong enough to transport snow, but not as intense as we are often accustomed to on Mt Hood. Very strong winds have ramped up Tuesday and likely built new, stiff wind slabs above treeline. Take the time to examine the bond of recent snow to older crusts before committing to slopes steeper than 35 degrees and steer around steep start zones near ridge crests when traveling on wind loaded slopes.
Example: Wind textured snow surfaces and drifts like these serves as great clues that the wind affected the snowpack and may have formed wind slabs on nearby slopes.