Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 15 m
- Weak Layer
- Depth Hoar
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 76 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northwest
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2743 m
On the second lap skiing north west from the top of powder park three, a group of five triggered a slide. The fourth skier saw the slide break out 10 feet from the bottom of her skis came to a stop on top of the tree and screamed, "slide, slide, slide!" The fifth rider, a Snowboarder, stopped right above her and noticed fracture lines between your two tracks above them without further release. Confirmation shouts indicated no one was caught or buried.
The slide ran 200 feet to the toe of the deposition zone funneling through trees constricting to 20 feet at the narrowest waist. The skier and snowboarder skied the facet dead surface and took measurements along the way. The rollover was 37°. The depth was 2 to 3 feet breaking on facets a foot above the ground all the way to the bushes on the ground.
At the bottom of the slope the group debriefed the event and returned safely from the side further assess the slide. Several heuristic traps were noted. The first was skiing in 30° terrain on a high/considerable day with a PWL. The second was skiing at the same time versus one at a time with eyes on. Finally, we realized that we always have a plan for skiing bigger days on "higher consequence" terrain. However, today the goal was to just do a ton of laps for fitness and fun. We did not discuss at the car no go zones for the day or have a firm plan. I am grateful that the slide broke under my skis and that I had the quickness to react. I am lucky to have received the freebie reminder that 37° is also "high consequence" even though it looks mellow.