Wind Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Unlikely
- Dimensione
- 1–1.5
Last night, winds remained calm to light out of the west, with occasional gusts into the moderate range. Yesterday, observations showed very light wind loading onto easterly aspects. This problem will be restricted to above treeline terrain, and specific to west, north, and east aspects. While these slabs are expected to be unreactive to trigger, there is still a chance you could find one in steep terrain. If triggered, these slabs could break up to 2 feet deep. This problem will likely stabilize quickly with today's calm weather. On your travels, look out for visibly, fat, and wind loaded slopes. Wind slabs can range from soft to hard, thin to thick, and are often smooth, rounded and sometimes sound hollow. Shooting cracks or collapsing in drifted snow are clear warning signs of instability.
(12/2/2023)
Cracking wind slab, Green Butte Ridge
Photo: Samuel Clairmont