Persistent Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Likely
- Dimensione
- 1–3
Hard slabs 2-4 feet thick continue to pose a significant threat to riders and skiers. These slabs have the potential to release and produce large avalanches today. This was illustrated yesterday, when skiers triggered a large avalanche on Prater Mountain on a SW aspect at 9,500 feet. Similar events have occured over the last week, including incidents invloving avalanche burials. Avalanches are becoming more difficult to trigger with the passage of time since the last loading event. Obvious warning signs such as shooting cracks and whoompfing are becoming less common. Despite these facts, it remains necessary to be suspicious of all steep terrain on all aspects in the mid and upper elevations. Give yourself and your group a wide margin and avoid exposing more than one person at a time if traveling on or below avalanche terrain.
(1/27/2024)
A large skier triggered avalanche occured within the last 36 hours on Prater Mtn in the Salt River Range. Observer saw tracks to crown/flank and tracks in bed surface.
Photo: Eric Taft