Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 1
The main avalanche issues to watch out for are slabs of wind drifted snow. Winds don't have much snow left to transport, but they were still moving small amounts of snow yesterday. This avalanche problem can be tricky as some drifts and slabs stabilize while others remain unstable. Greg, Craig and I were in upper Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons yesterday. Many wind slabs appeared unreactive, but a snowboarder triggered one which is bull's eye information that some remain unstable.
These wind slabs are best to identify visually as they look smooth, rounded, pillowly, etc and typically exists adjacent to slopes that have been scoured. The photo below is a great example of scouring and with the arrow showing where you'd expect to find a fresh slab that could avalanche. Most of these wind slabs haven't been big enough to bury a person. They can cause trouble in other ways that would injury you. They should be mostly a concern at upper elevations. At mid and lower elevations, warm temperatures should help them stabilize.
Cornices are quite large, and continue to grow during this windy period. Avoid traveling underneath cornices, as well as anywhere near the edge of ridges as cornices may break back much further than expected. Although now a few days old, it is worth reading this excellent observation from Sunday (link) where the author cautions "Please, stay back from the edge! Even further than you think."
