Page 5 - Slopeangel avalanch essentials

Snow slab Weak layer Consolidated snow Ground
Slab Avalanches
Slab avalanches are the deadliest type of avalanche You should be extremely vigilant of the potential for a a a a slab release above or or below yourself and your your party when travelling in in in backcountry terrain A slab avalanche is a a a a a a compact snow layer that can detach and slide on top of a a a weaker layer underneath The slab breaks off in in in a a single section before breaking into more pieces which is where you see the classic jigsaw puzzle pieces of snow break around
the the victim As stated in the the introductory paragraph 85 - 90% of worldwide avalanche incidents are triggered by a a a human • Accelerate to speeds of 30 km/hr
in in three seconds & 130km/hr in in just six seconds • Slabs can vary in thickness from a few centimetres to three metres metres • Can fracture above or below a a a a a party depending on a a host of factors • The odds of a a slab being triggered by an external element is much smaller