Backcountry Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions for Gulmarg 29.1.2015

ALPINE 3,000 to 4,000m – CONSIDERABLE

 

BELOW TREELINE Below 3,000m – LOW

Primary 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.

Secondary 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

Snowpack discussion

I am keeping the danger rating at considerable for the alpine, and low below tree line. A better word for considerable is serious. We have serious avalanche danger in the alpine right now. Persistent slab is the problem. Our current snowpack is >100cms, with 30-50 cms of depth hoar on the bottom, and ~80cm slab on top of that. Likely places for triggering avalanches are under rocks, or near thin areas of the slab on N,NE, and E facing aspects . Travel above tree line today is dangerous. The last storm also deposited deep wind slabs near ridgelines on isolated leeward slopes that still have the potential to run on the old wind-hardened snow surface. Wind loading at ridge tops and cross-loaded areas over the past days has brought greater stress to our already fragile snowpack. We are planning to open phase 2 of the Gulmarg gondola today.

 

Weather Discussion for 3000m Partly cloudy with a chance of snow showers today. Significant snowfall is forecasted for the coming weekend.

 

Beacon, Shovel, and Probe required to access phase 2 of Gulmarg gondola.