Persistent Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Possible
- Dimensione
- 1–2
Recent Avalanches: On Saturday several human triggered avalanches 6 to 12” deep were reported on Seattle Ridge either remotely triggered or triggered by a cornice fall. There was also a cornice triggered avalanche on Magnum ridge. Luckily no one was caught.
Above 1500’ avalanches up to a foot deep on buried weak snow will be the biggest concern today. We had several human triggered avalanches over the weekend that failed on a layer of surface hoar and facets. This is telling us that these layers are still reactive and can be easier to trigger than expected especially if they are under a wind slab. So where does this problem exist? Thanks to several observations we have seen these layers throughout Turnagain Pass and Seattle Ridge. It will take careful snowpack assessment to identify if the slope you intend to ride is harboring these weak layers. Traveling hand pits and attempting to trigger small test slopes can tell you if the layer exists and if it can avalanche. Whumpfing and shooting cracks beneath you are clues that the snow is capable of sliding. These avalanches can be triggered remotely from below, the side, and on slopes adjacent to you. With such a tricky situation it may be easier to ride lower angle slopes instead of trying to tiptoe around the problem.
Cornices: For a variety of reasons cornices have been falling and triggering avalanches. They are quite large from strong winds and the sun is weakening them. Watch out for cornices above you if you are traveling under them as well as on ridges where they could break further back than anticipated.
Glide Avalanches: We are still seeing glide cracks opening and occasionally releasing. Keep your head up if they are on slopes above you and try to avoid spending time under them.