Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 38°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 9 m
- Weak Layer
- New Snow/Old Snow Interface
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 6 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 25 cm
- Start Zone Aspect
- North
- Avalanche Problem
- New Snow
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2804 m
Ran into an old avalanche on our ascent of Scotties today. It appeared to be unintentionally triggered (maybe intentionally, I won't make assumptions) on the way up by a group yesterday. A skin track lead into the slab and tracks descended out of the debris pile, it seemed as if that was enough to turn folks around. Good call! R1-D1-SS on the NO interface. (photo 1)
Cracking was widespread while breaking trail today on W and N facing where we ascended. When we gained the ridge above the small day old pocket I stepped on the convex roll where it was steepest and triggered a larger pocket that was in steeper terrain and a bit bigger. Still R1-D1 but plenty of consequence associated with the zone due to terrain traps (trees.) (photo 2 - taken from below the trigger point on our second up.)
Bonding at the NO interface is poor and needs more time before pushing slope angles. Slopes less than 35 degrees had quite a bit less energy but initiation was easy when you crept closer to 40. We ski cut terrain that was steep and initiated another avalanche at a "sweet spot" convex roll that was in the upper 30's... another ob will be posted.