Windslabs in the pine
Quick reportDrewskiis · Feb 20, 2026 · Duffey
Quick report
- Weather
- sunny, windy
- Ride Type
- sunnySlopes, alpineSlopes, openTrees
- Stayed Away
- alpineSlopes, convexSlopes
- Riding Quality
- ok
- Snow Conditions
- windAffected, crusty
- Avalanche Conditions
- avalancheConditionSlab
Summit attempt on saxifrage - turned around after triggering a wind-slab on the main ascent slope. Rugged travel in valley bottom and up avalanche closes to gain the lake. Lots of alder bashing and creek/marsh faff. 5-15 cm dry powder on a robust crust. Tucked tail and skiid Morraines beneath Cassiope back to the lake, cutting multiple small slabs on any steep or convex slope, various aspects, 1700m to 2100m elevation.
Avalanche
- Run Length
- 20
- Slab Width
- 50
- Trigger Type
- skier
- Wind Exposure
- crossLoadedSlope
- Avalanche Size
- 1
- Slab Thickness
- 20
- Trigger Sub Type
- accidental
- Start Zone Aspect
- SE
- Vegetation Cover
- openSlope
- Start Zone Incline
- 40
- Avalanche Character
- windSlab
- Crust Near Weak Layer
- 1
- Number Of Avalanches
- 2-5
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2100
- Start Zone Elevation Band
- alp
- Avalanche Occurrence Datetime
- 2026-02-20T22:00:00.000Z
Once gaining the alpine there we started to encounter variable wind-affected snow, increasing with elevation. Popped a sz 0.5 wind slab on the skin track approaching the main ascent slope. 2nd skier tried another route and did the same. Skiing down the moraines we triggered multiple small, windslabs and dry loose on isolated features. Various aspects N, SE, E, 1700m to 2100m, 20cm Slab thickness. Saw a heli group in the area and looks like they also found the windslab in open alpine