Wind Slab on Wolverine Ridge

Riding quality was:

Good

Snow conditions were:

• Crusty
• Wind affected

We rode:

• Open trees

We stayed away from:

• Sunny slopes

The day was:

• Sunny
• Warm

Avalanche conditions

• Whumpfing or drum-like sounds or shooting cracks.

Snow on the ridge was very wind affected, with wind coming from the SW. We were hoping to ski NE slopes down the ridge, but found substantial wind slab, even further down where it was more treed. What was concerning was that it wasn’t very well bonded to the snow below, so when we isolated a small block it was easy to get the wind slab to slide, and it was solid enough to pick up. Thickness varied, but up to 10-15 cm in areas.

Opted to ski the way we came up, at the end of the valley instead, where the slopes were shallower and less wind affected.