23 March, 2017

What does the scale above mean to you as a skier or snowboarder in the Gulmarg backcountry? Remember, this advisory is for the Gulmarg backcountry, which means the terrain that is outside of Gulmarg Ski Area. The red areas in the photo below are the Gulmarg backcountry, and the green area is Gulmarg Ski Area. This advisory does not apply to the green zone ski area. Read more here.

For ski area updates during the day please join Gulmarg Avalanche Advisory page on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2jowwOM.

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gulmarg avalanche

Snowpack Discussion

23 March 2017 – Avalanche danger above Treeline today is Considerable (3), natural avalanches possible, human triggered avalanches likely.  Active wind loading from the South/Southwest is depositing fresh wind slabs in the start zones of the bowls of Mount Apharwat and in mid-slope isolated terrain features on Northerly aspects. I’m looking up at the start zones with binoculars as I write this, and there are widespread small natural avalanches from yesterday afternoon and overnight in the start zones. The wind continues at G4 station right now (7:51am).  At Treeline and Below Treeline, avalanche danger is Low (1), natural and human triggered avalanches unlikely.

http://www.deepsnowsafety.org/index.php/. We now have enough snow in the conifer forests for skiers and riders to get trapped in tree wells and stream holes. Read more about this phenomenon in the link above. It causes several fatalities each year in other ski regions of the globe.

http://mountainhub.com/

Mountain-Hub-Gulmarg
See daily snow observations, snow pits, and data from the Gulmarg Avalanche Advisory. Sign up for a free Mountain Hub account.

Avalanche Problem #1 – Wind Slab

Release of a cohesive layer of snow (a 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.

Danger Aspects

Weather Forecast (link:http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Gulmarg/6day/mid)