What Is Faceted Snow & Why Does It Cause Avalanches? Early-season snowfall and a thin snowpack are some of our biggest enemies in the avalanche game. Thatโs because these conditions are prime for faceting, which creates persistent weak layers. So far this season, with October promises of an epic season still unfulfilled by January in many places, a faceted weak layer has been the culprit of a majority of the fatalities in North America and Europe. […] Avalanche SnowBrains | January 29, 2014 1 Comment