Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 38°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 46 m
- Weak Layer
- Facets
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 46 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 91 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Remotely Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- North
- Avalanche Problem
- Persistent Weak Layer
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3048 m
I triggered this avalanche remotely from over 100 feet away while traveling on skis on a safe low angled ridgeline. I was walking along looking at north facing terrain when the slope made a loud "whoomp" and collapsed causing the avalanche. It was about 3 feet deep, 150 feet wide and ran about 150 feet.
The collapsing was the weak sugar snow near the ground from October. It is not uncommon to trigger avalanches from a distance when a "persistent weak layer" of sugary faceted snow is present in the snowpack.