Backcountry Snow, Weather, and Avalanche Conditions for Gulmarg 17.2.2015

 

ALPINE   3,000 to 4,000 meters – CONSIDERABLE  

 

BELOW TREELINE Below 3,000 meters – MODERATE

 

Primary 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.

 

Secondary 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.

 

Snowpack discussion

We received 10cms of denser storm snow in the past 24 hours at mid-mountain. This has caused some storm slab formation, with potential avalanche activity in the alpine at the new snow/old snow interface.  Likely areas for avalanches are along ridgelines and in cross loaded areas, chiefly due to wind transported snow causing wind slab formation. Winds were primarily out of the south-southeast in the past 48 hours, so likely locations for wind slab formation are on NW,N, and NE facing slopes. The building blocks of an avalanche are made of snow, but wind is the builder.  Our main concern is still the persistent slab problem. Our snowpack is sitting on a persistent weak layer of 5mm depth hoar/basal facets.  As one local observer described it, “a mattress on ball bearings”.  Be careful today in the alpine zone. A wind slab, dry loose (“sluff”), or storm slab avalanche stepping down onto the persistent weak depth hoar layer at the bottom of our snowpack could produce a large and dangerous slide.  Remember, the information you communicate to your group and to the skiers and riders around you could save their life.

 

Weather Discussion for 3000m Cloudy today with possible light snow showers this afternoon.  Light southerly winds with moderate wind gusts during most of the day.  Light snow showers are forecasted to come through overnight tonight, continuing off and on through most of the day tomorrow.

 

Ski Area Information (Green zone)

Phase 2 – closed

Phase 1 – open at 0900

Chair lift – open after 1130*

*When the chair lift opens today, take advantage of the fact that we want to keep you from traversing underneath the hanging slabs above (Don’t turn right as you get off the chair lift). Stay to the right of the chair lift tower as you ski down. If you go to the left of the chair lift towers you are exposing yourself to avalanches coming down from above. We learned a few weeks ago with a close call that when a portion of the ski area is closed, natural and human-triggered avalanches are possible and you shouldn’t ski there.  If you traverse towards the paper trees today, you are exposing yourself to slabs hanging above you.