Climbers triggered this very small wind slab on the way to a climb up Flanders in Hyalite (11/11). A tiny slide to a skier can be bad news for a climber since losing one's balance or getting pushed off a cliff can be deadly. From an email (edited):
Hyalite Snow Conditions:...we dug two hasty pits on east facing slopes in Flanders....
8200'- isolated opening in trees in an area on rocks, shallower snow (~50cm). CT12 at the ground, again just tapping on the back of other hand, so not super legit, but did raise eyebrows.
8450'- Opening below cliff bands on exposed traverse. Deeper snow (~80-90cm). No concerns other than storm snow and snow coming off of cliff bands. Classic Hyalite shifty winds. We released a small (10-15cm) storm slab on traverse into the climb .
Weather: It was snowing and blowing all day.
Photo: S. Magro
Advisory Year
Avalanche Details: Climber triggered wind slab in Flanders
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Nov 12, 2018GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Wed Nov 14, 2018
Northern Gallatin, 2018-11-12
Forecast link: GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Mon Nov 12, 2018GNFAC Avalanche Forecast for Wed Nov 14, 2018