Quick report
Attempted to get a jump start on the warm day w a bivy at 10.5K’ on East Crater Rim as well as an early bail on Wy’east upper route when started noting rime fall and loose wet activity. Clearly wasn’t enough even at upper elevation to avoid the early sun hit and higher temps over-softening. Also thought ski line crag wall shading, heavy easterly winds couple days ago and clear skies last night would help guard against an overly wet snowpack so early on. Didnt work either. Actually on that note, even on bootpack on bed surface back up to my gear, I sank in considerably. Hadn’t thought wet slab would yet be an issue at that high an elevation, but wondering now.
Avalanche
9:45am SE-facing loose wet on Newton Clark Headwall (w possible windslab trigger given noted a small crown on similar aspect nearby on exit ski and how quickly and suddenly it enveloped me so early in the descent despite being on guard bc of test slope). That said, I didn’t have a view of start zone from where I collected my gear and didn’t feel a collapse or see any cracks. Ran from 10.7ish to at least 10.1 and possibly further given possible cliff band view obstruction (somehow self arrested 10.2K despite tumbling for most of the carry, soft snow and easing terrain prior to rock outcrop/cliff likely helped). Given location of me versus my gear w associated paths, inclined to say grew to D2ish size. But saw lots of earlier activity in the area so maybe just multiple smaller. First time caught and carried. Got very lucky given the terrain.