Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 2
People could trigger slab avalanches of wind drifted snow in terrain exposed to drifting from somewhat unusual east winds. The east winds easily picked up fresh powder on the surface and deposited it on sugary faceted snow in deceleration zones. The drifting has created stiff wind slabs in unusual, perhaps unexpected places, capping weak snow. Some of these drifts will remain unstable for a while, and the sugary snow that they formed on is now a buried persistent weak layer.
- Avoid recently drifted snow near canyon mouths and on steep slopes at mid and upper elevations on the lee side of ridges and in and around terrain features like sub-ridges, gullies, and cliff bands.
Loose avalanches (or sluffs) of powder and recrystallized or faceted surface snow remain possible in terrain sheltered from the east winds, on very steep and sustained slopes.
- Manage loose avalanches by staying out of constricting terrain, like drainage gullies, and moving out of the fall line so you don't get caught by your own sluff.
- Avoid being caught and pulled into terrain traps below you like trees, gullies, or benches.
Loose avalanches or sluffs of new snow on the south shoulder of Naomi Peak. (2-22-2022)