Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 1–2
Recent Avalanches: A large avalanche was triggered in the Carter Lake area yesterday that ran to the valley floor. It was triggered by a skier who released a cornice that fell onto the slope. Luckily no one was hurt.
Lingering wind slabs up to a foot deep will be possible above 2,500’ that may be sitting on top of a layer of buried surface hoar. Similar to Turnagain Pass, this layer can be a big concern if there is a big enough slab on top of it. The large avalanche in Carter Lake yesterday is telling us that this problem does exist in Summit Lake. We are not sure if this failed on the buried surface hoar layer but based on the size it likely failed on a weak layer. This will be more concerning where the weak layer is deep enough to trigger an avalanche like on a wind loaded slope.
Wind slabs commonly form below ridgelines, rollovers, and in loaded gullies. Look for shooting cracks, collapsing and snow that becomes stiff underneath you. These are clues telling you that the wind slab has not bonded well to the old snow. The safest option is to look for slopes that are sheltered from the wind.
(3/11/2025)
Winds slab avalanches releasing in steep terrain.
Photo: Daniel Krueger