How to avoid being touched by a creep‏
Following last weeks storms and a huge snowpack all across the Alps, we had really seen surprisingly little avalanche activity either nautral or triggered and virtually no accidents. But from Monday the temperatures have risen sharply and we have seen a different risk. Warm slippery snow releasing on lower angle slopes (15 to 20 degrees)
LIVE FOOTAGE OF AVALANCHE IN PORTES DU SOLEIL 9TH JANUARY 2012
Watch the 9th January Crosets video on the Henry's Avalanche Talks facebook page.
Now, the more observant amongst you will have noticed that the slope angle is quite gentle. Those of you who have been to our talks will know that we discuss slope angle as a critical safety factor. This is because we know that a cold dry slab avalanche cannot release on slopes of less than 25 degrees. So this forms a critical part of our safety advice. Cold dry slab avalanches are the ones that we can trigger ourselves. So how come we can get slides at less than 25 degrees and how do we avoid them?
This video shows a wet slide in warm conditions. These are not often triggered by skiers, they occur naturaly and spontaneously. In this case we believe it is due to a thick snowpack that was a single layer. The snow fell on warm ground in December and this week was lubricated by warming temperatures.
I am guessing this was a scary incident for the piste patrol as the avalanche released over a piste. The group who filmed it enjoyed the spectacle. But however tempting that is please notice that the skiers should not have hung around watching the event. Once it was clear that the snow could release on slopes at that altitude aspect and angle, they should have got as far away as fast as possible.
How can we avoid this?
Well, keep your eyes open for slopes with cracks going down to the ground. Record what the altitude, aspect and angle of the slope is and relasie that simialr slopes could do the same. if you do have to cross any slopes like that. Do it quickly and consider your islands of safety. (trees do not offer this as was commneted in the video). This will tend to be slopes with E to SW orientation where they get a lot of sun. It is more likely at lower altitudes.
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