Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 9 m
- Weak Layer
- New Snow
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 53 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 25 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Intentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northeast
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3078 m
We had already observed on Preston Peak that the new snow was not bonding well to the stout crust on the exposed ridge lines. On the peak and ridge below the peak, we had some cracking and movement of the new wind loaded snow on the crust. We had not observed the same lack of bonding in sheltered areas and off the ridges. We thought this issue may have been more prevalent on the southerly aspects due to wind loading from the strong NW winds.
A ski cut on the north east facing aspect of Pioneer Ridge (descending down to the Pacific Highway run at Brighton) proved that this was more widespread that we had expected.