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.
Snowpack Discussion
4-7 April 2017 – Avalanche danger above 3000 meters is Considerable (3), natural avalanches possible, human triggered avalanches likely. The main concern is new snow storm snow being transported by wind into the North and Northeast facing start zones of the bowls of Mount Apharwat. Travel beneath these bowls is not advised until the storm is finished. At Treeline and Below Treeline, avalanche danger is Low (1). Normal caution advised. Watch out for unstable Wet Loose snow during the warmest hours of the day. This is the final advisory for this season. Avalanche forecasts will resume in January 2018.
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.
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)
