Teddy Bear Ridge Wind Slabs

<p>We were skinning up the up track to Teddy Bear trees, and had just transitioned from the treed south ridge to the exposed eastern face. There was a strong upslope wind blowing from the East that was transporting the new snow. Within 5 minutes of touring we transitioned from loose unconsolidated storm snow to obvious, reactive wind pillows, and realized we were not comfortable continuing on the exposed up track. We ripped skins and carefully skied a line through the sparse trees down into the bowl, trying to stay off continuous slopes. We set off multiple small wind slabs on the way that were maybe 15 cm deep, but we also found pockets where it could have gone much deeper. The takeaway for us is that the wind effect is very variable where you find it, and the wind direction is not predictable, since on the south ridge the wind was blowing from the Southwest. </p>

Terrain Ridden

Convex slopes, Steep slopes, Open trees.

Avalanche Conditions

30cm + of new snow, or significant drifting, or rain in the last 48 hours.

Slab avalanches today or yesterday.

Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.

Snow Conditions

Wind affected.

Weather Conditions

Stormy, Windy, Cloudy.