Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 15 m
- Weak Layer
- Density Change
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 21 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 46 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- Northeast
- Avalanche Problem
- Wind Slab
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2164 m
While skinning from the base of Indicator Hill to the top of the Birthday Bowls, one member of our party caused a crack to propagate and slide while stomping in the platform on a kick turn. We were switchbacking a small ridge to attain lower angle terrain that would allow us to traverse to the Birthday Bowls, and it was telling just how close we were coming to the change in angle. The slope we were skinning was approximately 25 degrees steep; the slide released just left of our skin track where the angle steepened to perhaps 30 degrees. The slab was again 4F wind pack on top of the F new snow from the Christmas storm. Crown depth varied from 30 to 60cm, averaging about 45cm.