Quick report
- Slope Angle
- 40°
Avalanche
- Slab Width
- 15 m
- Weak Layer
- Density Change
- Trigger Type
- Skier
- Vertical Fall
- 122 m
- Avalanche Type
- Soft Slab
- Slab Thickness
- 51 cm
- Trigger Detail
- Unintentionally Triggered
- Start Zone Aspect
- North
- Start Zone Elevation
- 3139 m
I unintentionally, but not surprisingly, triggered a soft slab in the north chute of East Mineral. It broke about 10 feet above me on the steep roll over where it always breaks. I saw it crack and easily skied off the slab avoiding what could've been a ride down the chute. The weakness was within the newer snow about a few cm above the dirt layer. This was identified prior to the avalanche. It is interesting that this weakness is still somewhat sensitive 3 days after its formation. It's my opinion that you need a slope approaching 40 degrees to get these types of slides to release.
Here's a totally different type of instability that I observed.