Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 11 m
- Weak Layer
- New Snow/Old Snow Interface
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 20 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- North
- Avalanche Problem
- New Snow
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3018 m
Two skier party ascended to the top of Scottie’s bowl from columbine bowl and decided to drop into Scottie’s. Having discussed the days forecast and avalanche problems, we felt safe to drop in to a wind sheltered, smaller slope with trees.
Skier 1 dropped in and descended without issue, stopping just out of sight past a group of trees. Skier 2 then dropped in slightly to the left of skier 1s tracks. After several turns, a slab broke underfoot approximately 8” down and propagated 15-20 feet in both directions. The slab moved through some small trees before depositing at the base of larger pines.
Skier 2 then descending the track to meet with skier 1 and continued out.
The slab seemed to break on either new snow old snow interface or a mid-storm layer.