Quick report
- Collapsing
- isolated
We triggered a slide of the north facing summit bowl of Schallenberger Ridge after one skier traveled about 3/4 of the way around the top of the bowl from east to west. About 2/3 of the width of the bowl slid (~500’) down to the trees below. The trigger occurred about 15 feet from the edge of a cornice. The snow varied enormously throughout our tour from Donner Lake through the top of the ridge. A few steeper rollovers on the ascent were not reactive, though clearly different than summit snow conditions. We intended to ski cautiously noting the high number of injuries and fatalities on a considerable risk day, but obviously failed to maintain the large margin of safety recommended around a known slide path. The triggering ski track was less than 6 feet from the nearest fracture in the snow.
Avalanche
- Size
- D2 R3
- Aspect
- N
- Trigger
- AS
- Elevation
- 7400 ft
We triggered a slide of the north facing summit bowl of Schallenberger Ridge after one skier traveled about 3/4 of the way around the top of the bowl from east to west. About 2/3 of the width of the bowl slid (~500’) down to the trees below. The trigger occurred about 15 feet from the edge of a cornice. We intended to ski cautiously noting the high number of injuries and fatalities on a considerable risk day, but obviously failed to maintain the large margin of safety recommended around a known slide path. The triggering ski track was less than 6 feet from the nearest fracture in the snow.