Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 15 m
- Weak Layer
- New Snow/Old Snow Interface
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 30 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 30 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Cornice Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- North
- Avalanche Problem
- Wind Slab
- Start Zone Elevation
- 2926 m
3-4' wind driven cornice was overhanging the north side of Cemetery Ridge which was tagged as something to avoid by our crew for the day. With nearly constant 30 mph winds and stiff gusts we could see the wind deposits being made off this ridge line. One of our crews hats blew off and I went to fetch it and stabbed it about 8' from the cornice edge.
I looked down the cornice and saw no one below and half thoughtlessly gave it a minor tap with my pole. The cornice broke back about 1' from the edge and propagated up and downslope for about 50' feet in the last couple days wind deposit. The avalanche then ran for about 100' downslope and ended in the pines.
Several crews have skied this north slope in the past week. There were at least 3 new ski paths down this steep north facing slope with regular cornices. This is at least the second skier caused avalanche on this slope in the past 8 days.