Quick report
Drifting on slope that avalanched. small stuffs on SW slot bowl and several stuffs running NW face of Big Kangaroo Peak
Avalanche
Thanks to NWAC observer Willie Webster for getting this information out to the public early and his excellent pictures. The area where that avalanche triggered has a more Northwest orientation at that point, and is leeward from our more westerly facing climbing track. Our group of 5, which included a former Ski patrol/ Rainer/ Denali mountain guide, another former ski patrol member, 2 experienced BC skiers, as well as one local with 43 years of experience skiing the highway 20 corridor. The area that avalanched is rarely skied due to its historical status as a frequent avalanche performer and due to its wind loading characteristics, steepness and high consequence nature. We discussed the nature of that slope as we were placing the skin track 'as a no go area'. That slope was still being wind loaded on the 2nd from gusty WSW winds The avalanche occured on our 3rd lap and was REMOTELY triggered from approximately 60 feet away while skinning on the windward side of that fall line ridge feature. Our journey began by placing our skin track climbers left of the main gully that runs down from the Ski Line we call 'The Slot'. This approach keeps a ski party away from being in the avy runout path of another frequent avalanche performer ie, Big Kangaroo Gully. As we reached the Slot bowl, the skin track was placed climbers left where a recent small stuff was seen coming from a SW facing cliff band. This more South Westerly approach works fine when solar gain is low and it avoids being under another frequent avy performer ie, the NW faces of Big Kangaroo peak which has already hammered the slot bowl several times this year with D2 class avalanches and produced several stuff avalanches thought-out the day. When solar gain is high, watch for roller balls, large chunk and larger stuffs coming off that SW large cliff band where we placed our skin track. Several hasty pits were dug without significant results. We booted up the Slot and 5 skiers descended. We then decided to go ski the W gully located hundreds of vertical feet under a Kangaroo Ridge feature commonly know as "The Nipple". That gully has a bowl like entry with SW to NW facing slope aspects. Our approach was up the west face slopes adjacent to that Slope that ultimately avalanched. After 3 ski cut attempts without results, all 5 skied the gully, one at a time. We regrouped and the 4 members of our group decided to go back up to ski that gully again (which they did), while I at 69 years old choose to split off from the main group (my informed decision) and ski the easier climb, slot bowl again. It was on the 3rd lap, second climb in that area when that remotely triggered avalanche occured. After regrouping, I was told the tale. Note: In one of Willie's fine picture the 4 skiers can be seen examining the Start zone and was not the moment of the trigger. The crown was estimated to be 2' to 2.5'. That slope often recieves a wind polished crust. While on the fall line ridge feature, while we were setting the skin track, looking down the fall line of that Slope, I observed a line of drifts on the lee side of that fall line ridge. That slope was loaded with an obvious slab structure, why we avoided it and why BC skiers almost never ski it (I never have). Happy and safe skiing to you all. Fun CH.