Persistent Slabs
- Alta quota
- Limite del bosco
- Sotto il limite del bosco
- Probabilità
- Likely
- Dimensione
- 3
In late January, the Logan area mountains developed a widespread layer of weak and sugary surface snow. Wind drifting and recent accumulations built thick slabs on top of this layer and now, many slopes are plagued by a persistent weak layer buried 1 to 3 feet deep. Today, people are likely to trigger dangerous soft and hard slab avalanches failing on this persistent weak layer in upper-elevation terrain, possibly even in more sheltered terrain.
- Avalanches could be triggered remotely (from a distance) or from below.
- Audible collapses (whumpfs) and shooting cracks are sure signs of instability but may not always be present.
- Getting caught in a PWL avalanche can be deadly.
- The easiest way to avoid this problem is to avoid steep slopes with this type of poor snowpack structure.
- Plenty of excellent powder riding can be found on slopes less than 30 degrees.