Fresh glide cracks

Glide cracks often appear in spring and during long periods of mild temperatures or rain. In terrain that is steep enough, the snow will creep because it has no anchor point to the ground (smooth rock/grass). Before the avalanche comes, the snow begins to creep along the ground and a glide crack opens up. It is hard to estimate when a glide avalanche will occur, but one indication that the avalanche is imminent is if the cracks widen more quickly.

Glide cracks open up ahead of a glide avalanche. Photo: Varsom