Snowpack Discussion
Three days ago we made a tour up the Shark’s Fin to assess snowpack conditions, conducting snowpit tests on a North aspect at 4200m, and a North aspect at 3800m. The goals of the two tests were to assess our two current avalanche problems, Wind Slabs & Persistent Slabs. Please read below in more detail about the nature of these two avalanche problems. Today, we will be heading out to reassess how the clear skies, warmer days, and cooler nights have affected our snowpack over the past three days.
Our tests three days ago revealed that wind slabs continue to exist in the alpine regions of the Gulmarg backcountry. It is unlikely you will trigger one of these slabs as they are very stiff and hard to break through, but they should be considered in your decision-making today. If you were to trigger one of these small to medium-sized slabs and were above rocks or cliffs, you could be carried over them and be injured. As with all days, choose your terrain wisely. Wind slabs exist on all aspects in leeward top-loaded and cross loaded areas at ridge tops and in mid slope isolated terrain features. Likely aspects are North and Northwest aspects.
The next test pit was a rutschblock and propagation saw tests on the Persistent Slab that sits on all aspects.
Previous days have shown the weak layer beneath this slab to be bonding on East-Southeast-South-Southwest aspects, while continuing to produce clean shears and the ability to produce an avalanche on steeper terrain on West-Northwest-North-Northeast aspects. Yesterday’s test gave a Rutschblock score of RB6 EB, meaning on the 4th jump a skier triggered the edge of the slab on the persistent weak layer. Read more about Rutschblock scores here. Next, the Propagation Saw Test gave a result of PST 44/100 end. Read more about Propagation Saw Tests here. The take home message here is that we have a persistent weak layer that has shown the ability to produce a slab avalanche. If it does slide, it will be medium to large in size and will be large enough to bury a skier or rider.
Avalanche Problem #1
Wind Slab – 
Release of a cohesive layer of snow (slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Wind Slabs form in specific areas, and are confined to lee and cross-loaded terrain features. They can be avoided by sticking to sheltered or wind-scoured areas.
Avalanche Problem #2
Persistent Slab – 
Release of a cohesive layer of soft to hard snow (a slab) in the middle to upper snowpack, when the bond to an underlying persistent weak layer breaks. Persistent layers include: surface hoar, depth hoar, near-surface facets, or faceted snow. Persistent weak layers can continue to produce avalanches for days, weeks or even months, making them especially dangerous and tricky. As additional snow and wind events build a thicker slab on top of the persistent weak layer, this avalanche problem may develop into a Deep Persistent Slab. The best ways to manage the risk from Persistent Slabs is to make conservative terrain choices. They can be triggered by light loads and weeks after the last storm. The slabs often propagate in surprising and unpredictable ways. This makes this problem difficult to predict and manage and requires a wide safety buffer to handle the uncertainty.
Weather Discussion (for 3250 meters): Light southerly winds today with no precipitation. The next storm system is more promising, and forecasted to arrive on the 27th January 2016.
Gulmarg Ski Area (green zone) Timings for 23/1/2016:
Phase 1 – 0830-1630 (last cabin at 1600)
Phase 2 – 0900-1600 (last cabin at 1530)
Chair Lift – 0900-1530 (last chair at 1500)
Height of Snow at Top of Gondola: 275cms
Height of Snow at Mid Station of Gondola: 76cms
Height of Snow at Base of Gondola: 50cms
Beacon Training Center on Merry Shoulder is OPEN with 2 BEACONS. Come by Gulmarg ski patrol base at mid mountain to learn the location of the beacon training center and hone your search skills and times.
Next avalanche talk is tonight. Wednesday, 27 January, 2016 at 7:30pm at Hotel Hilltop. Hotel Hilltop is located across from the ice skating rink in Gulmarg meadow. Talks will continue every Wednesday night at 7:30 pm through 30 March, 2016.