January 17, 2015

Backcountry Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions for Gulmarg 17.1.2015

ALPINE

3,000 to 4,000 meters -Today’s Danger Rating > CONSIDERABLE                                                  


Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious route-finding and conservative decision-making essential.

 

BELOW DangerScale_Icons

TREELINE

Below 3,000 meters – Today’s Danger Rating      > LOW

 

Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.

Untitled4Primary Problem

Wind slabs form where wind has deposited or drifted snow. You will find them on lee aspects, generally near ridge lines, around terrain features and in ‘cross-loaded’ features like vertical ridges, couloirs and gullies. Wind slabs may remain reactive for up to a week after the wind event has ended.

Untitled6Secondary problem

A persistent slab is any slab formed over a persistent weak layer, in our case, depth hoar. These slabs are hard to predict, often are triggered from the middle or low on the slab, and can propagate over large areas and across terrain features traditionally thought of as safe zones, like ridges, benches, and low angle terrain. The problem can last for weeks or months.

Untitled2 copySnowpack discussion

Today’s danger rating remains considerable in the alpine zone. Gondola Status: Phase 1 & Phase 2 will be open today. Outside of the ski area, wind slabs are prevalent on lee slopes near ridgelines, and mid-slope on NW,N,NE, and E facing slopes. These slabs can badly injure or kill you. Tests yesterday indicated that these slabs are beginning to bond to the old snow surface, but they are still reactive. Our snowpack is shallow, and getting avalanched right now would mean getting dragged over rocks. This is the danger. Keep in mind that 24% of avalanche fatalities are due to trauma.

Persistent slabs also remain underneath the storm snow. They are likely anywhere old snow remains from early December which is NW, N, NE, and E facing slopes. If these slabs avalanche, there will be serious consequences.  It is difficult to forecast when they will avalanche, but we have a new load on a depth hoar snowpack, with significant warming in the afternoons.

Untitled3Weather Discussion for 3000m

Clear skies and mostly calm today. Highs around 6 degrees with a low of -2. Current models are indicating a storm system moving in next Tuesday evening.

Issued by: Gulmarg Ski Patrolred-cross-2_bigger

This advisory is issued as a public service. No patrol services or avalanche control take place outside of the ski area boundary.