convex slope - / kɒnˈvɛks sloʊp / -
A terrain feature that is curved or rounded like the exterior of a sphere or circle. Convex slopes:
- Generally tend to be less safe than concave slopes.
- Statistically produce more avalanches and more avalanche accidents than other kinds of slopes, partly because they are inherently less stable and partly because they present more safe travel problems than other slopes.
- Have less compressive support at the bottom than other slopes, which makes a difference for small avalanche paths, some difference on medium sized avalanche paths but has little effect of large avalanche paths.
- Tend to wind load more than other slopes. (Wind slows down as it rounds the convexity which causes it to drop its load of snow.)
- Are tricky to descend because each step or turn you take adds another degree of steepness until suddenly you find yourself on terrain that’s too steep. But you can also use this to your advantage. With a soft slab, if you descend slowly, especially jumping on the snow or slope-cutting while you descend, the avalanches tend to break at your feet instead of above you more so than on planer or concave slopes. (Remember that hard slabs tend to break above you no matter what.)
- Are difficult to assess because the conditions you find on the upper flat part of the slope often are much different than on the steepest part of the slope where you will most likely trigger an avalanche. For instance, there are some stories in which someone digs a snow profile on the upper section, pronounces the slope safe, then triggers an avalanche on the steeper part below
\\ Take it easy on convex slopes, they tend to go more often!