Quick report
- Cracking
- isolated
Group was aware of winter like consistency in upper snowpack and was looking for wind slabs in the morning. On other E facing aspects shallow wind affected snow was observed cracking in an apparently benign manner. Snow was less than 6" deep or less to crust layer in all observed areas before slide. Hand pit tests produced low quality failures at ~ 5 in depth. Mountain was shrouded in a cloud cap upon arrival and for a couple hours after, but north facing bowls on the eastern arm of bear creek mountain were in sunlight. A pitch off the summit was ski cut with a rope belay, and no reactivity was observed. Both skiers skied said pitch conservatively then migrated to N facing aspect to the east in the same bowl. Even shallower wind affected snow was observed, although isolated cracks were noted. Group then moved towards the next bowl eastwards where the slide occurred. One skier fell on an icy wind scoured patch of snow just before the slide path but the isolated wind scouring was not taken into account. Group was cautious for the first pitch but gained confidence for second. Overall impression of stability was mixed, but the wind affected snow did not seem deep enough to be of high consequence and the level of wind transport was underestimated.
Avalanche
Skier triggered D2 soft slab on wind loaded slope facing east below the eastern arm of bear creek mountain. Skier was caught and carried appropriately 15 yards but not buried. Slide was approximately 100ft wide and had crown of variable height up to 24". Slide ran approximately 500 ft.