Quick report
After skiing Klahhane bowl in good conditions with stable snow we turned around and prepared to return to switchback trailhead. As we skied down we noticed significantly more consolidation in the snowpack than as when we had ascended. There were small rollerballs but no other signs of wet loose instability as we descended. After slightly diverging from the skin track with no issues for a hundred feet or so we decided to ski down a steep chute to continue our descent. Upon skiing I almost immediately triggered the avalanche but was able to self arrest quickly. Reviewing the situation we realize there were quite a few mistakes made that led us to complacency and triggering an avalanche. Not carefully assessing our descent route, not considering that a steep unsupported chute could slide and lots of heuristic assumptions all were factors. Thankfully this was a safe learning experience.
Avalanche
- Size
- D1
- Type
- WL
- Aspect
- S
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 5500 ft
Triggered a D1 wet loose slide after starting to ski a steep chute. Crown was around 6” deep, 15-20 feet wide. There was no clear termination point as the slide continued through trees and down the slope.